Tim sat in the bay window, staring out through the gauzy curtains at the sun sinking below the edge of the fields. This time of year, the colors were spectacular, spreading beneath the fading blue like a painter’s palette caught in the rain. If this had been his birthday party, he would’ve celebrated in the open air, with a barbecue instead of a caterer. But Mr. Mayer liked his amenities, his air-conditioning and fussy appetizers, so the setting made perfect sense under the circumstances.
Besides, it gave Tim a paid day off to attend. Nothing wrong with that.
A commotion at the front door pulled his attention away, and he tilted his head to get a better look through the wide entryway and into the foyer. Mrs. Mayer scurried from the kitchen in the back of the house to approach whoever had
