The Doorman: A Novel

by Chris Pavone

Everyone is always running out of time. As soon as you become aware of the possibility of something ending, it is. High school graduation is just around the corner, college is over almost as soon as it starts, your twenties are slipping away and you still haven’t accomplished anything. By fifty it seems like you’ve been running out of time for decades. And then you do.

Whit inhaled sharply through his nostrils, like all pricks do when boasting about something repugnant.

Emily’s children had never been on a commercial flight. Not one. A couple of years ago, the day before spring break, one of the kids turned to Emily. “Mrs. Longworth?” Dahlia asked. Her sisters were Rose and Lily. “Are you going to Colorado tomorrow?” “Yes dear. We are.” “When’s your wheels-up?” Emily could see one of the scholarship moms raise an eyebrow. That was a low point.