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She sighed.“I don’t have good memories of it, now do I?I got it cleaned out, and I’m ready to sell it.The market’s picking up, and the rental property was always my retirement.I’m selling it, as well as my house, and moving in with my granddaughter.She just had her third child, and she wants help.I can do that, at least for a while.Sweet girl, hellion children…they’ll keep me young.I’m wandering this big, old house and thinking of my Larry.And the rental property has such bad memories?—”

“I’m sorry.”My eyes stung.“So very sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

And yet her tone betrayed her words.

“So I need you to come today.The hospital didn’t want to give me your number, but when I explained it all had to go?—”

“Even the pictures?”I’d meant to go back.I really had.To get my affairs settled.Just…she wasn’t the only one with bad memories of the place.

“I understand you’re settled somewhere.That nice lady at the hospital didn’t say where.Wouldn’t tell me anything.She said she’d call you, and I said if I didn’t talk to you today that I was tossing everything.”

This all felt very cruel.But I couldn’t blame her.“I’ll be there.I still have a key.”

“Put it through the mail slot when you leave.Text me when you’re gone.”

So she didn’t even want to see me.Couldn’t say I blamed her.“Thank you for reaching out.”

“Take care, young man.I’m…sorry.”She cut the line.

Panic raced through me.I had to find a way to get to LA.I had to?—

A knock came on my door.

I headed to it, still clutching my phone.I opened the door to find Anthony on the stoop.

“Phillip, are you okay?”He spotted the phone.“What happened?”

I pressed said phone to my forehead.“Just…my landlady said if I don’t get to LA today, then she’s going to throw out all my stuff.”

“Ah.That’s… I want to say, cruel.”

“She’s got the right.I haven’t paid rent for months and months.She was coming to evict me when—” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

But Anthony knew, so he simply offered a sympathetic smile.“Look, I don’t have much time.I just got a call about an urgent case I need to deal with—otherwise I’d run you up to LA myself.I’d ask Scott, but he’s working.I mean?—”

“You don’t have to disturb Scott.This is on me.If I catch a bus?Or the train?”

“And haul all your stuff back?”

“It’s only the photographs that matter.”My voice might’ve broken on that.

“Look…let me make a phone call.”He held up his hand and stepped away.

I gazed up at the blue sky so I wouldn’t cry.I just couldn’t afford to cry.

“Okay, I have a solution.”Anthony’s smile was soft.“Two pieces.I’ve found you a ride to and from LA.”

“How…?”

“I have a friend, Colin.He runs up to LA periodically.He can make the trip today.No worries.”

“That—”

“But I can’t ask him to take Wally as well.I mean, I could, but?—”

I waved him off.“No, that’s fine.I, uh…”