"What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"I called several times the other night. You didn't pick. Same thing the next day. I was really worried."

"Oh. Sorry about that."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I was just busy and left my phone at home."

"Busy doing what?" He looked puzzled, apparently not believing anything I said.

"I went to work in one of the orchards. Dad. You know how he is…"

"No, I don't." I paused and took a long look at Sylvester. We stared into each other's eyes, none ready to back down.

He had returned to the room with a pack of chilled canned beer, a bottle of red wine...