“If necessary,” she said, her tone dismissive.

“But it won’t come to that. Graham will sign this, the bank will extend the line, and everything will continue as it always has.”

She slid the folded document back onto the corner of my desk.

“Make sure he signs it tonight,” she said.

“I don’t want to hear any excuses about him being tired.”

She turned and walked toward the door, her heels clicking loudly on the hardwood floor.

“And do try to dress a little better for dinner this weekend, Jocelyn,” she said, pausing at the threshold.

“We are having the Millers over, and I would prefer it if my daughter-in-law didn’t look like she just stepped out of a typing pool.”

She did not wait for an answer.

The door clicked shut behind her, the glass pane rattling slightly in its frame.

I sat in the silence of my office for a long moment.

Outside, the Dallas heat was rising off the asphalt of McKinney Avenue, shimmering in the afternoon light.

I picked up the document Gloria had left behind.