HE WALKED STRANGERS THROUGH MY LAKE HOUSE LIKE HE OWNED IT

where the wind drops for a minute and the whole surface goes flat as a plate and you can hear a boat two miles off.

“Did you know,” she said. “When you called me yesterday. Did you already know.”

“I knew about the walkthrough. I’ve known about the loan since July.”

She turned her head and looked at me.

“July.”

“July.”

“Why didn’t you tell me.”

“Because I continue reading …