“Eight months from now, I think.”

Jim reached into his coverall pockets for his Lucky Strikes. He shook one out and tapped the end on the flat of his lighter.

Ryder’s Impala pulled up behind Jim’s car. He had the radio turned up on a talk station. He shut down the engine but let the news play a few more seconds. The announcer’s voice was deep, talking about the Red Sox game to be played in Boston tonight. Ryder shut off the radio.

Jim lit the cigarette as he walked in.

“You brewin’ coffee yet, Jimbo?” Ryder rested his harp harness on the table and put his six-pack in the fridge.

Jim blew out smoke, shook his head, and looked back at Leo. “Tell him.”

“Bad news?” Ryder said.

“No, it’s not, Dad. It’s not bad news.”

Jim dropped his smoking cigarette and stomped on it. A plate slid from the dish rack into the sink and Jim pointed a thick trembling finger at Leo’s face. “Do not, give me, any lip.”

Leo glanced down at the table, then out the window. He wanted to stand and walk outside, run through the woods, but he wasn’t about to move in front of Jim the way he was right this second.

“Go ahead and tell me, Young Buddy. Did you get in another fight?”

Leo looked at Ryder’s lean smiling face. He felt like smiling too but he held it off and said the words as serious as he could: “Me and Allie are going to have a baby, Ride.”

Ryder’s eyes shot from Leo, to Jim, then back. “Is this before, or after the wedding?”

“Before, I hope.”

“Hope?” Jim said. “There is going to be a wedding, and damn soon.”

“Allie doesn’t want to get married, Dad. She just wants to have the baby.”

“I b’lieve he means adoption, Jimmy.”

“Is that true?”

“No, I want to marry her. She told me she wouldn’t, but I think she will. She’s confused.”

Jim leaned back on the counter and crossed his arms. “Does Donovan know?”

“We told her mother last night.”

“How’d she take it, Young Buddy?”

Leo shrugged. “She wanted Allie to get an abortion.”

“Over my cold body,” Jim said.

“No, it’s all right. I talked to her today and everything’s fine. She knows it’s up to me and Allie.”

“Why hasn’t she called me?”

“Allie?”

“No. Her mother should call me.”

Leo sipped his Coke.

Ryder smiled and shook his head. “Look at him, Jimbo. A boy daddy.”

“No. you’re wrong. He just kissed his boyhood good-bye.” Jim looked at his son. “You know that, don’t you? After supper, we are driving up to the Donovans.”