Eleanor called at six forty-four on Friday morning.
One minute earlier than usual.
Fina was still in bed. Half asleep. Reaching for her phone with her eyes not fully open.
She answered.
Silence for exactly two seconds.
Then — "Show me."
Fina sat up. "Eleanor —"
"Ethan called James at twelve thirty-one this morning," Eleanor said. "James called me at twelve thirty-two. I have been waiting six hours and fourteen minutes to call you at a socially acceptable time." A pause. "Show me."
Fina looked at her hand.
At the ring.
Held it up toward the phone camera.
Eleanor was quiet for a long moment.
A long enough moment that Fina lowered the phone and checked the call was still connected.
It was.
"Eleanor?" she said.
"I'm here," Eleanor said. Her voice was different. Stripped of the s
