California Fire And Life

21

Here, Nicky tells him like it's simplicity itself.

I was here.

And he shrugs, like fate is an inexplicable thing.

"And thank God," Mother says, "the children were here."

"When did you pick the children up?" Jack asks.

"About three o'clock," Nicky says.

"Was that the usual arrangement?"

"There was no usual arrangement, strictly speaking," Nicky says. "Sometime middle to late afternoon."

"And were you here from three o'clock on?"

"No," Nicky says. "I believe we went out to dinner around 6 or