I removed the baskets. Pressed on the bottom.
The plastic flexed. Then one corner lifted.
That was when Vanessa appeared behind me.
Now Ryan was coming down the stairs.
He saw both of us.
His expression changed. “What’s going on?”
I slipped the key into my jeans pocket. “Nothing.”
Ryan looked at the empty freezer. “Why did you take everything out?”
“I’m cleaning it.”
“Now?”
“Apparently grief makes me productive.”
Normally, he’d laugh at that. He didn’t.
His eyes moved to Vanessa. “What are you doing here?”
She crossed her arms. “Same thing you are.”
“I came looking for Jess.”
“How did you know she was here?”
He didn’t answer. That bothered me.
I asked, “How did you know?”
Ryan held up his phone. “Her car’s outside.”
Fair enough.
Then he pointed toward the freezer. “Are we getting rid of that thing?”
Vanessa answered too quickly. “No.”
Ryan stared at her. “Why do you care?”
“I want it.”
“For what?”
“The garage.”
“You hate that freezer.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You literally told Mom it smelled weird.”
Vanessa’s mouth tightened. Ryan laughed.
Then he looked at me. “Just junk it.”
Vanessa said, “No.”
One word.
Ryan’s expression changed.
It was subtle.
