When All Was Said

"It's not too late."

Angie regarded her parents from across the kitchen table. "For what?"

They had called her late that afternoon "to talk." Phoebe came along with her.

"There's someone we'd like you to meet," her mother said. She refused to look at Phoebe. "He's a good man."

"A lawyer," her father added. "Young too."

"I'm not interested."

Her mother made an impatient sound. "You say that now but-"

Angie lifted her left hand.

As silence fell throughout the room Phoebe reached for her other hand and squeezed.

*

*

*

Thank you for lingering