Chapter 36

NATHAN Mel’s sweet-sounding laugh fills the car. “I’m telling you it’s right.” Shaking my head, I stare down at the newspaper on my lap. “I’m almost certain the answer to thirteen down isn’t cockblocker, corazón.” She trails her fingers over the two letters already filled in. “But it fits, see?” She laughs louder, and tears stream down her cheeks. I can’t help but smile at her infectious joy. “If I’d known you were going to be this much trouble, I never would have asked for your help.” Her laughter subsides, and she wipes the tears from her eyes. “Well, when you said you had the perfect way to spend forty minutes, I had no idea you meant completing the Sunday crossword.” “I’ll have you know that the New York TimesCrossword was an institution in our house.” She places a hand over her heart. “Then I’m honored to be a part of it.” Is she sassing me? I toss the paper onto the seat beside me and pull her into my arms. “So you agree that a crossword is the finest way to spend forty minutes o