She calmed down immediately as she made her way to the kitchen, where she opened the refrigerator and withdrew all the things she would need to make Arnie’s favorite, meat loaf. This was, after all, an Amy Day and she could do whatever she pleased, and it pleased her at the moment to make her husband a meat loaf. She turned the radio on and tuned to a station that played rock music. She made up words to the beat of the music. If you had died, I would have cried…

She watched him from the window. He’s a hunk all right, she thought. “Stay, Atlas. This is my night, and he doesn’t have his dog with him either. I won’t be late. Stay with Lola. Now, behave yourself when I open the door.”

She knew she looked good in her strawberry silk dress with the tulip skirt that flirted with her ankles. Danielle had promised men would drop to their knees when she wore it because it showed off each and every one of her luscious curves. She wondered if she should wait for Boomer’s reaction or be satisfied with Anthony’s whistle of approval. Lola and Mandy simply beamed with pride. She wondered if Boomer would be able to tell that she felt hot all over. “Hi,” she said when she opened the door.

“Hi yourself. Can we go, or do I have to pass inspection?”

“Let me introduce you to my grandmother. It will take just a moment.” She didn’t wait to hear Boomer’s yea or nay. She opened the door more widely, and called out, “Lola!”

“Over here, dear,” Lola trilled. “We were just going to go into the sunroom to watch the evening news.” The trio changed direction, heading for the front door.

“We’ll only keep you a minute. I want you all to meet Boomer Ward, the new police chief. His real name is Mac. Lola Jor Dan, my grandmother, Mandy, and Anthony, this is Boomer.”

“I’m so very pleased to meet you, Mr. Ward. I know Indigo Valley is in safe hands with you at the helm.” Mandy and Anthony simply smiled and extended their hands.

“It’s my pleasure, Miss Jor Dan. You are by far my parents’ favorite actress. I know for a fact my mother has seen every single film you made. She’s always saying that they don’t make actresses like you anymore.”

Lola almost swooned with happiness. “You must bring them to dinner one evening. I’ll send an invitation. It was very nice meeting you, Mr. Ward.”

“We’re being dismissed. Bye. I’ll see you all later.” Cady giggled.

Outside on the porch she said, “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Thanks for saying that about your parents. Lola loves compliments.”

“I only told the truth. My mother loves old films. She’s going to go over the moon when I tell her she’s invited to dinner. I hope it isn’t for at least a month because that’s how long it will take her to find just the right dress. You’re right, though, it wasn’t bad at all. I never took a girl home to meet my parents,” Boomer blurted. “I knew how I felt when I had to stand in front of some girl’s father, hoping I passed. Did you feel like that?”