“Would you mind setting those bags outside for just a bit?” Sheila asked her, pointing to a wicker sofa and matching chairs. “Right there would be fine. I don’t want Shep and Beau knocking you over when you’re carrying all that.”

Mary Beth thought for a second that Alma hadn’t mentioned Sheila having sons. Then the screen door blew open and a couple of big brown dogs burst out, bypassing Sheila and Alma and heading straight for Mary Beth. She tossed the bags into the nearest chair just in time.

Miraculously, they sat and stayed at Sheila’s command. Except for their thick tails, which brushed the porch floor like they were sweeping it.

“Good dogs.” Mary Beth patted each canine head in turn. Shep, true to his name, had the black muzzle and thick ruff of his breed, while Beau looked like more of a mix. They were powerful animals, about the same size.

Alma looked at the well-behaved animals a little nervously. “Do they always obey?”

“Of course.” Sheila took a couple of dog treats from a covered flowerpot. “I trained them myself. They’re awful friendly, but they do make a lot of noise sometimes. Bark first, ask questions later. Isn’t that right?”

Shep and Beau trotted back to Sheila, then sat again, panting, awaiting their reward.

“Mind your manners. And roll up those tongues,” Sheila instructed them.

Done.

She balanced the treats on their noses.

Mary Beth laughed at the dogs’ cross-eyed patience. Sheila snapped her fingers and they gulped the treats. “Go play,” she instructed them. “They’ll be back soon enough,” she told Alma and Mary Beth.

Sheila assisted Alma over the threshold. Mary Beth picked up the bags again and stepped inside, letting her eyes adjust to the dimness after the strong sunshine. The interior was half hidden by a number of boxes placed haphazardly about, but Mary Beth could see that it was handsomely furnished with good antiques.

“Are you going to the flea market?” Alma wanted to know.

“Not today. Bud is still packing stuff upstairs. I tagged everything for him so I don’t have to breathe down his neck. I’ll introduce you later, but for right now, you all come into my parlor.” Sheila led the way. “Take the settee, Alma. Mary Beth can have the armchair. I can’t wait to hear all the news. It’s been too long.”

The two friends settled in, trading tales of old times for hours until Mary Beth took a surreptitious peek at her watch. She’d been entertained by their reminiscing but it looked to her like they were going to stay up half the night talking. Mary Beth decided to leave them to it as it was almost eleven o’clock. Alma seemed content to be there, even happy, as if she’d turned the clock back to her younger days.