I walked to the lounge area and sank into one of the sofas.
I pulled out my phone and checked the time.
Then I called Marjorie.
One ring. No answer.
Three rings. No answer.
Seven rings. Still nothing.
On the eleventh ring, she finally picked up.
"Hey, babe?"
Her voice was tight, her breathing unsteady, like she was adjusting something.
I asked her what she was up to.
"Just out shopping. With a girlfriend."
Her tone had already leveled out, carrying that lazy, casual ease she always had when we chatted at home.
"Been at it all day. I'm exhausted."
I didn't call her out. "Where are you shopping?"
"Oh, you know... over by the Galleria."
She laughed. It sounded natural.
The old me would never have caught a single crack.
"My trip got canceled. The client rescheduled last minute." I forced my voice to stay even. "I'm at the train station now. Can you come pick me up?"
Silence on the other end.
About three seconds.
Those three seconds stretched forever.
Long enough for me to hear the gears turning in her head.
Then she spoke, a note of reluctance threading through her voice.
"Oh, I really can't get away right now. My friend and I just sat down to eat."
"Maybe you could grab an Uber..."