Feelings. Now he knew a lot more about feelings than he had. Maybe that’s what Josh didn’t like about the new Tony. Josh was not known for his empathy. But calling Carol was potentially a mistake on Josh’s part. If Tony and Carol had stayed together, Carol would have moved into the townhouse and replaced Josh. Although Tony hadn’t gotten around to telling Josh that.

Where was this conversation going? What did Carol want? Should he get his hopes up?

“Tony?”

He changed lanes to pass a slower car. “I’m still here.”

“You were quiet for so long I wasn’t sure. What I was wondering is, would you like to…uh, well, get together and talk some more?”

He was tempted to say, talk about what? Haven’t we talked about it all, ad nauseam? Or at least he had listened while she talked. Well, sometimes he had argued. Sometimes he had let his mind wander. He didn’t want to be the bad guy now. He also didn’t want to get hurt anymore. He said, “When would you like to get together?”

“What are you doing this evening?”

“I have to go to a meeting.”

“Oh. I’m going out of town on business tomorrow. I won’t be back for several days. I hoped we could see each other today. What time is your meeting?”

“Seven.”

“When will it be over?”

She was starting to act as if she owned him. Again. “I’m not sure.”

“May I ask what kind of a meeting this is?”

He didn’t want to get into that. It would require too much explanation, which he didn’t owe her. Maybe if he said it fast. “I-I joined a Hotline. The meeting tonight is for all the listeners.”

“Josh told me about your foray into the Hotline. He also said the Hotline closed down. Because the girl who was murdered worked there.”

“I think it’s going to start up again.”

“Josh said you listen to people talk about their problems. But if you can listen to other people’s problems, why couldn’t you listen to my problems?”