Maureen bade MJ, Daryl, and Roxie good night as she locked the door behind them. The three stood on the sidewalk.

“I thought you and Loren came together,” MJ said to Roxie.

“No, she has an early morning meeting and she knew I’d stay until the door closed. She said to tell you thanks and good job. You walking in the morning?”

“Of course. Besides, I bet this is the topic of choice at Annie’s in the morning.”

Roxie asked, “Weren’t you surprised to see that man, hmm, what’s his name?”

Daryl answered her. “There were four men. You probably mean Hudson, the one who is knitting an afghan.”

“Yes, well, I know you and Fred, and Jeff.”

“Fred went over and helped him on the peapod oar.”

“Right. Did Hudson say how he got into knitting?”

Daryl nodded. “His mother had started an afghan before she died, and when he was laid up with a badly broken leg, his wife challenged him to finish it to honor his mother. Said he finds it very relaxing so he kept on. Says he has several started but they got put away when his wife was sick and he took over with the caretaking.”

MJ stared at her husband. Learning this much about someone else was not like him. Perhaps starting this group might be good on several levels. One of the older women had told her thank you because this got her out of the house for a change.

The three of them, with baskets and bags, walked up the street, past Annie’s, and toward home. Instead of turning in at the yellow house, they kept on walking.

“You don’t need to walk me home,” Roxie said.

“I know, but it feels good.” Daryl grinned at her. “MJ here is always after me to get out and walk more.”

“As you said, it feels good. Such a perfect evening. Listen: crickets.”

“You want to come in for coffee?” Roxie asked when they’d reached her house.

“No, thanks,” MJ answered after a quick check to see if her husband wanted to. “But I’ll see you in the morning, eight?”

“How about seven thirty, I’m showing a house at ten thirty.”

MJ and Daryl wished her good night and turned back for home.

“Good, we’ll be home in time for the news.” Daryl picked up the pace. “I heard Looper howl when we went by.”

“He could hear us talking, I suppose.” They could hear him clearly when they turned in at their gate. “You go watch your TV and I’ll take care of him.”

Short though they were, their basset’s legs had springs in them when Daryl and MJ came in the front door. Yipping and whipping his white-tipped tail in a circle, the dog darted from one to the other, whining and whimpering.

“You goofy dog, we have not been gone for days, you know, just a few hours.” MJ set her basket down. “Come on, go outside?” Looper tore off to the back of the house and danced at the back door. She heard the TV come on and knew Daryl was settling into his recliner. MJ reached back inside to the canister holding the doggy treats and, biscuit in hand, sank down onto the bright floral lounger. She heaved a sigh and looked up to see the stars. Thanks to the city’s light pollution, she could only see the big ones but the arch of light-dotted indigo above that faded to rosy gray in the west brought peace seeping throughout her body. Shame she didn’t do this more often.