Chapter 3

“Charlene,” warned Josiah.

The conversation had to change when Alex came out of the spare room. “The bed is inflating,” he reported. “What should I know about your routines?”

“Routines? Uh, let’s see, I get up at six, jog for half an hour unless it’s shit weather, shower right after that, eat breakfast, and leave at seven-thirty.”

Josiah brought a few boxes and a suitcase in from the hall while Alex asked, “What else? When do you get home?”

“Usually about five-thirty, but I’m on call until nine Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus one Sunday a month.”

Alex typed this into a note on his phone. He seemed really concerned about routine, and Tom began to wonder if hosting him had been a good idea.

“We’re going to head out,” said Josiah. “I still haven’t done my training for the day.”

“For the triathlon? How’s that going?” Last Tom had heard, Josiah was cursing out the hills he had to bike up.

“I’m getting there.”