Connie came forward and sat, picking up one of the dried rings and chewing like worrying over it. “But God, he’s a well-made man.”

Leah smiled at her. And said, “You’re holding back.”

“Well, for now!”

Leah nodded. “He’s young.”

“Some things, it seems to me age don’t matter on a man.”

“He strikes me as steady-minded.”

“Any boy can mind his manners waiting on dessert.”

“Is that what he’s after you think?”

“By Christ I wish I knew. He talks a serious streak and so do I and then we’re all over each other and it’s Katy-bar-the-door. What I like about him is he’s got big ideas but not too big. It all sounds right and fits with who he is but I still get antsy. Like jumping out my skin. Other times we’re just having a grand old time and I don’t think about a thing. I don’t know what to trust: him, me, the both of us.”

“Sounds like your Mister Jack Manchester man gave you something more than what you recognized.”

Connie looked at her, one side of her lower lip pulled up between her teeth. Paused, thinking. Then made a small nod. “Thing is, how do you know?”

Without pause Leah said, “When you can’t help yourself. When it’s all beyond you. When thinking just doesn’t even happen.”

“Sounds like ten times a night.”

“Then maybe it is. Or maybe not. One these days you’re going sit across from me and bold as brass tell me what your future looks like. Could be him, could be not him. Could be somebody else. Could be tomorrow. I don’t know and you neither. Hard as it is, that’s how it should be. It keeps things, interesting.”

Connie nodded. “Things’re interesting enough I guess.”

“Now that’s good. All you can ask for.”

“I want to know.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Stupid.”

“Not hardly. But that don’t mean you get advance notice.”

“I worry I’m not around as much as you need. Both you and Norman. I made a promise to him and doing that, one to you too.”

“You’re round enough just now. Time comes we both know you’ll be around more. Norman worries about the sugaring and I worry about this.” Patted her stomach like a guest arriving. “Time you’re shirking you’ll know it. Who knows, maybe that Glen’ll even come in handy.”

Connie burst breath through her nose. “That’d be a fine day.” Then said, “How’d you ever trust Norman?”

“I don’t know. But, the time I met him, I knew I had to trust or not. It didn’t mean I didn’t leave my doors open. It just meant I wasn’t going to use em less I had no choice.”

Connie nodded, her face lowered toward the table. After a bit she said, “All I want is to climb up all over him. All the time.”