The call came at ten fifteen on a Wednesday morning.
"This is Vivian Ashford," said the voice on the other end. "Dominic's grandmother. I'd like to come for tea today. Around two, if that suits you."
It did not suit me. I had a client call at one and a vendor meeting that I had been trying to reschedule for two weeks. But the voice on the other end belonged to an eighty-year-old woman with six months left and she had said it the way people say things when they know the answer is already yes.
"Of course," I said. "Two o'clock is perfect."
I called Dominic the second I hung up.
"Your grandmother just called me," I said when he picked up.
"I know. She called me first."
"And?"
"And she's coming for tea." A pause. "She doesn't ask permission."
"Clearly." I looked at the kitchen. "What
