She told Paul that our father had died, and I told the others. It’s something you think about all your life—getting a call like that. When will it happen, and where will I be? you wonder. There’s a responsibility in delivering such news, but the more times you phone and get someone’s voice mail, the less solemn you’re likely to be. In the end I sounded pissed off more than anything. “Where have you been? Dad’s dead.”
