“Yeah, I guess we didn’t think about that, but Kenna won’t give a rat’s ass. I can tell you that for sure. She loves her sister.”

Bennett smiled. “I know she does.”

“So what do we do? I keep telling Cathleen we should talk to her about it, but Cath’s afraid if Fallon isn’t gay, we could offend her by asking.”

“And you think being gay is offensive?”

“What?” Gus said, looking over his shoulder. “No, of course, we don’t.” The car rumbled a second later, and Gus whipped his head back around, quickly steering the sedan off the edge of the highway and back into his lane. “Guess I should keep my eyes on the road—huh?”

“Only if you want to live to see another day. We both know I will.”

A few minutes of silence passed between them until Gus’s eyes found the rearview mirror again. “So…about Fallon. Cathleen wanted me to ask you if…if you wouldn’t mind talking to her for us. Just feel her out. See what’s on her mind. Break the ice, so to speak. You two have always gotten along.”

Bennett arched an eyebrow. “So, what you’re saying is in case she isn’t a lesbian, I’m the one who looks foolish. Is that it?”

“No. Well…oh, hell, I don’t know,” Gus muttered. “Just forget I said anything. We’ll figure it out.”

“I’ll talk to her, Gus,” Bennett said, grinning.

“You will?” Gus said, beaming into the rearview mirror. “Oh, Bennett. That would be great. That would be more than great. Cathleen will be thrilled.”

“Then it’s settled. You two figure out a time, and I’ll come by and have a chat with Fallon.”

“Well, as luck would have it, Cathleen is making lamb stew for dinner tomorrow, and she wanted me to invite you over. She knows it’s one of your favorites, and you know Cath, she always makes enough to feed an army.”

Laugh lines took over Bennett’s face. “How fortuitous.”

Gus looked up at the mirror. His eyes met Bennett’s for a long moment, and in that moment, there was friendship, compassion, and love. “Yeah, funny how things sometimes work out—ain’t it?”

***

The car rolled to a stop in front of the entrance to an estate on Westcliff Road. A short walk away was a pair of stone pillars, between which was a set of formidable iron gates. Beyond the ornamental protection was a long, winding road, and this was as far as Gus ever got.

“Same as usual?” he said, swiveling to look at Bennett. “Drive down the road and wait for your call?”