Evanelle still had on the mask, but the skin around her eyes crinkled in a smile. “It’s coming along real nice up here, don’t you think?”

“It looks great,” he said. “It’s going to be great.” As soon as he moved his things in, that is. But that involved going back to his house, something he’d been avoiding.

“What’s the matter?” Evanelle asked, sliding the mask up and resting it on the top of her head like a beanie.

“I had some bag boys drop off boxes at my house today. I’m finally going over there to do some packing. I was thinking of renting out the house. What do you think?” he asked, eager for her opinion.

She nodded. “I think it’s a fine idea. You know you can stay here with me as long as you want. I love having you.”

He let out a wet laugh, full of sudden tears in the back of his throat. “You love having a fool with a broken heart around?”

“Some of the best people I know are fools,” Evanelle said. “The strongest people I know.”

“I don’t know how strong I’m being.”

“Trust me. Even Phineas Young would be in awe. Want me to go with you to your house?”

He nodded. He wanted that more than he could say.

It was the first time since James had taken his things out that Fred had been in the house. He looked around the living room. It felt strange to be here now, and he didn’t want to linger. This place wasn’t home without James, it was just a lot of bad memories of Fred’s father.

Evanelle walked into the living room behind him, her shoes squeaking on the hardwood floors. “Whoa,” she said. “This place sure looks better than the last time I saw it. It was right after your mother died. God rest her soul, she sure did like her pictures of Jesus.” She reached over and rubbed the back of the soft leather reading chair. “You’ve got some nice stuff.”

“I’m sorry I never invited you here, Evanelle. I left that all up to James.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t get invited places. It’s just a fact.”

“You should,” Fred said, looking at her curiously. “You’re a good person.”

“Nothing I can do about it now. It all started in 1953. I tried to fight it, but you have to understand, when I have to give someone something, I have to do it. Drives me crazy if I don’t.”

“What happened?”

“I had to give Luanna Clark condoms. And you couldn’t get condoms in Bascom in 1953. I had to go all the way to Raleigh to get them. My husband drove me there, and he kept telling me it was a bad idea. I couldn’t help it, though.”