“William. I’m sorry. I was calling you from my cell phone. I had drop out. Hello? Hello?” Now, this is ridiculous. Somebody’s going to have to adjust my bill this month. Dialing. Dialing. Dialing. “William? I’m sorry, I had drop out again.”

“It wasn’t drop out. I hung up on you.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh. Of course you did. I’m sorry for calling you so late. That was insensitive of me. Rude, and just way out of line. I was tripping, thinking that an almost thirty-year relationship gave me some right to call you this late. William, I apologize. So, why don’t I let you get back to sleep, okay.—No, stop! Please, leave me alone, I don’t have any money!” I yelled away from the phone.

“Montana, what was that?!”

“Nothing. Just a pack of gypsies, tramps, and thieves walking to and fro seeking out who they might devour.”

I hear William chuckle to himself. He knew exactly what I was doing. “You’re good, Montana.”

“I know. That’s why you love me. I’m in the downstairs terminal. Look for the gorgeous bombshell with the honey black bob.”

“So, I’m picking up Sheree?”

“Ha ha.”

Like clockwork, it was almost exactly an hour and fifteen minutes later when the Fred Sanford–looking Wright family van pulled up. Hopping out of the van, looking obviously worn, was William. Such the gentleman, it was never too late, his body never too weary for chivalry. That’s what I loved about him. Just like a business class E-ticket, William was always hassle free.

“William! Hey!”

“Hey!” Hoisting my bag into the van, I hopped inside and we pulled off, headed down the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

“Montana, you know you’re wrong for calling me this late. What if I had been in the middle of something?”

“Something like what?” He just looked at me. “Oh that something. Then you wouldn’t have answered the phone.”

“Of course I would have. Anyone that calls after eleven has to be calling for some kind of emergency.”

“Well, were you doing something?”

“That would be none of your business.”

“Well, if you were, it couldn’t have been all that good.”

“How would you know?”

“Because you sounded like you were asleep.”

“You’re still wrong for calling. You really think you got it like that.”

“Don’t I?”

“Well if you do, you won’t always.”

“I’m cool with that as long as always never comes. Besides, who else was I going to call?” I smiled, shooting him my $25,000 Pyramid gold medal champion smile.

“Your family, maybe. Your mother or Sheree. Or better yet, your new husband. I’m sure by now you’ve found him.”

“Not yet. But I’ve got two weeks and two more finalists to go.” Before I could barely get the words out of my mouth, William broke out in laughter.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”