“Not in temple, you didn’t.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it. You and Sam seem very happy together.”

“We are.” Melvin blinked at Violet and grinned little milk bubbles before Katie lifted him to burp.

“Well then,” Katie said, “You’ve seen living proof today that biscuits and bagels can mix well. I wish y’all the best.”

Sam waited until they were nearly to the Alabama state line to say, “I’m sorry about the Rollerdrome. I shouldn’t have been showing off.” He reached for Violet’s hand and kissed her palm. “Forgive me?”

“Of course,” she replied. “I love you, Mr. Davidson. Your cousin and his wife are very nice. Katie and I had an interesting talk.”

“Did she tell you Jewish men are the best lovers?” Sam’s smile glowed in the dashboard light.

“That’s what she told me. I said I’d need proof.”

Sam drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Soon after our graduation, my parents are going to New York. Maybe you’d like to come over?”

“Maybe I would.”

On graduation day, she and Sam had held hands and watched Johnny roll across the auditorium stage in a wheelchair to accept his diploma. Violet’s friends cheered loudly when her name was called. She looked into the audience and waved brightly, spotting Johnny and his parents in the back of the room. He wheeled himself out without a glance.

Mr. and Mrs. Davidson were standing with Violet’s family in front of the school. Violet was thrilled to see Sam’s mother pat Alice Glenn on the arm and share a laugh over something as she and Sam approached.

“Mother, Dad, this is Violet,” Sam announced.

“At long last we meet you,” Esther Davidson said, extending her plump hand to Violet’s. “Such a pretty girl.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Davidson.”

Philip Davidson shook her hand and said, “Sam talks about you all the time.”

Violet beamed at Sam, who cleared his throat and said, “We have to get to the party at Ralph’s. We’ll see y’all later.” They were ushered off in a round of congratulatory hugs.

Sam’s parents were leaving on an unseasonably cool Alabama May morning.

“We’re staying at the Waldorf,” his mother said. “Mrs. Turley will be here to clean Monday, so you’ll have to come straight home after work to give her a ride home. There will be no parties, and no guests in this house. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Mother.” Sam watched his father struggle to drag suitcases out the front door. “Let me help, Dad.” When they were loading the car, he asked the question he’d been pondering for days. “Why are you taking Mom along on a New York buying trip?”