Schwartz’s words made me feel alarmed.

'I wanted to talk to you.' When he said it so seriously, I looked at him, my lips parted in uncertainty.

"Hey, chill!' he said, but his expression was sober.

Now I was intrigued.

Shooing the kids over to Beatrice, I indicated the wide kitchen windows where I could sit on a chair and no one would be within earshot.

After I was comfortably settled, he perched on the counter, gazing at his hands for a long time.

I ...