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"Yeah. It was. I think you did a pretty good job."

"Most of the talking was you. You're the one who got him off the ledge."

The line went quiet.

"Alex?"

He cleared his throat. "What you said to him on the phone. About Chicago. Was that true?"

I looked at the snow globe on the mantel. The glitter had settled.

"Yeah. It was true."

"I thought you were from Ohio?"

"I am from Ohio, but I went to college in Chicago." I stopped. "That's where I met Hazel's father."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I don't really talk about him much."

"Is he the reason you don't like being on social media?"

I hadn't expected him to remember that.

"Yeah."

"Well, I haven't met the guy and I already don't like him."

I smiled. I couldn't help it. "Thank you, Alex."

"For what?"

"For picking up the phone."

"I like hearing your voice. So⁠—"

"You hear my voice all the time."

"Yeah. And I like it."

I was glad he couldn't see my face. My cheeks were warm and I was smiling at the ceiling like a teenager.

"You know, when Erin talked about you, I always pictured a graying man in his forties who'd shake my hand without smiling."

"I'm going to need to have a conversation with my sister. What exactly has she been telling people?"

I laughed.

"I mean it, though. Thank you for showing up for Hazel. I know you keep yourself busy, and making time isn't easy for you. It means a lot. To her and to me."

"I hate to admit it, but Erin was right. I was letting the job swallow everything else. So I'm trying not to do that anymore."

"What changed?"

"A school play."

I held the phone against my ear and let that sit.