Chapter Thirty-Five
9:17 p.m., Sunday, August 26, 2018As Amanda sat weeping in her car, a tap on the window made her jump. Before she could move, the car door was being opened.
“It’s time to get out of the car, Amanda.” Ron’s voice was unusually smooth and calming, carrying with it the authority of a man who had helped many people out of cars in his career. He gently peeled her stiff fingers from the steering wheel, enveloping them in one of his warm hands while placing his other hand under her left leg to carefully swing her out of the car. Without thinking, Amanda placed her arms around Ron and allowed herself to stand up with him. For a moment, the two of them were face-to-face, inches apart.
“This is awkward,” Amanda blurted, wiping the tears and snot and smudged mascara from her fa
