HIS TIE.
His eyes dropped.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Frank asked me not to tell anyone where he was going.”
“Then you could’ve told me you were on leave.”
“You would’ve asked why. And I couldn’t tell you.”
“You could’ve told me that.”
“FRANK ASKED ME NOT TO TELL ANYONE WHERE HE WAS GOING.”
Eliam didn’t answer.
“You could’ve said, ‘Someone I care about needs help, and it isn’t my story to tell.’”
“I thought you’d worry.”
“I worried a lot more after your receptionist told me my husband hadn’t been at work for five days.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
“I THOUGHT YOU’D WORRY.”
I sat across from him.
“You didn’t have to give me Frank’s secret. You just had to stop inventing yours.”
Eliam looked toward the medication bottle.
“I promised him.”
“I didn’t ask you to break the promise.”
“I PROMISED HIM.”
“If I’d
