“But that’s okay, I’m not your mother,” said Behm. “Or your shrink. I’m just saying, I can’t get to the bottom of this unless I have all the facts.”

“All right,” said Todd. “I have no money, I have no prospects and my wife’s going to screw me.”

“That feels like a prelude to me,” said Behm.

Todd took a deep breath. “You wouldn’t believe me,” he said.

“I don’t believe anybody,” said Behm. He drained his glass. “Time to go. I’ll take your case, because there’s something in there that interests me. Maybe when we get to know each other better, you’ll tell me.”

He got up. Todd thought for a moment. “What about the woman and the boy? In the snow?”

“It’s just a picture I carry around,” said Behm, and left.

*  *  *

Time passed. Todd sat around at home. There were messages from Janis (but not, thank God, from Billy). No publishers rang. Behm didn’t ring. Every so often, Todd would slide a sheet of paper into the typewriter and wait for something to happen. Nothing did. Days went by like this.

And then one morning, there was a knock on Todd’s door. Todd all but ran into the hall and yanked the front door open.

“Delivery for you,” said the person at the door. It was Sara, and she was holding three large packages. “I found this on the step,” she added.

Todd took them.

“Thanks,” he said, and turned the first package over. It was from one of the publishers he’d written to. So were the others. Return to sender, Todd thought.

“Can I come in?” said Sara, after Todd had stared grimly at the packages for almost a minute.

“What? Sure, I guess so,” said Todd, still numb from rejection.

“Gosh, thank you,” said Sara as she followed Todd into the house.

“Are you okay?” Sara said when she’d got Todd a beer from the fridge and a glass of water for herself.

“Sure,” said Todd. “Why do you ask?”

“Gee, I don’t know,” said Sara. “Maybe it’s because you didn’t return my calls. Maybe it’s because you’re acting like you can hardly see me. Maybe it’s because you lost fifteen pounds. Maybe it’s because nobody’s seen you for weeks. Or maybe it’s all of that.”

She leaned toward Todd, and touched his face.

“Besides, you pompous, vain, arrogant, self-obsessed, rude bastard,” she said, “I missed you.”

*  *  *

Half an hour later, Todd rolled over in bed.

“You’re a lot lighter now,” said Sara approvingly. “I like being able to get my legs around your waist.”

Something was troubling Todd. “Have you had any calls from Janis lately?” he said.

“You old romantic,” said Sara, and there was an edge beneath the breeziness. “No, Janis is staying away. Maybe—” and the breeziness was back, “she’s playing away as well.”