I kept peeling the apple and ignored Charlotte. I noticed her standing still in front of me. I’m monitoring what I’m doing. I’m chopping the apple right now. After a time, and she still didn’t move her gaze away from me, I said something.

“My husband did not say that he had an uninvited guest. Why does it look like your visit here was sudden and unannounced?” I let go of the small knife and laid it on the table. I took a slice of apple, dipped it in ketchup, then looked up at her. I saw that the mouthful I did stunned her.

“What brings you here? Where is...