Lauren observed. Elizabeth and I had gone in from our run and cleaned up. I'd thrown chicken and asparagus on the grill and it was nearly done by the time Lauren got home from work. I put together a salad while the food finished on the grill and the three of us had a perfectly pleasant dinner together. Elizabeth complained about the math homework she had to do and Lauren told us about a long, drawn out case that she was finally able to settle and was thrilled to be done with. I stayed quiet, the conversation with Anchor on constant replay in my mind as I half-listened to them talk. I'd offered to clear the table, letting them chat while I did the dishes and wiped down the grill. Elizabeth went up to her room to work on the math homework and Lauren was nestled on the couch when I came in from the patio. She'd switched into black yoga pants and a soft green t-shirt that hugged her swelling stomach. Her feet were propped on the coffee table and an unopened case file sat next to her on the cushions.
