Lola’s skinny hand shot out and patted the reporter on the back. “I knew I liked you for a reason. You’re right about everything. Agnes is safely asleep upstairs. We’ll take care of her. Now, how can I thank you for all the trouble you’ve gone to?”

“I’d like Madonna’s autograph if that’s possible and Myrna would like Brad Pitt’s.”

Lola laughed. “That’s a pretty tall order, but I still know some people in Hollywood on the younger side who might be able to help us. Why don’t you and Myrna come for dinner on Sunday.”

“Oh, I’d love that, Miss Jor Dan. I’ve seen all your films. I think I like the black-and-white versions better than the ones they colorized,” Myrna gushed.

“You are a girl after my own heart,” Lola gushed in return.

“Mrs. Jordan is a nice lady. Larry and I doubled back and waited to make sure she was really going to leave. We stayed behind her all the way on the interstate in case she broke down or something. I hope it all works out for everyone. If you need either Larry or me, just call the paper, and we’ll be right here.”

“I love it when I can depend on people,” Lola said, ushering the couple to the door. “We’ll be in touch.”

“She’s as homely as a mud fence,” Anthony said.

“No, Anthony, she’s beautiful. She has a heart, and right now her heart is fixated on Mr. Denville. I saw a certain light in his eyes when he looked at her. As we all know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That young woman has character. I think we’ll introduce her to Cady. I think they’ll get on well. In addition, the young woman obviously has a brain, and she uses it. I really liked her.”

“She’s still homely, Lola,” Anthony said.

“Not to me she isn’t,” Lola said.

“I agree with Lola,” Mandy said.

“All right, all right,” Anthony grumbled. “Are we just going to sit here and twiddle our thumbs, or are we going to do something?”

“What would you like to do, Anthony?” Lola asked patiently.

“Give me five minutes, and I’ll think of something,” the majordomo responded.

Lola looked pointedly at her watch as Anthony and Mandy rolled their eyes.

“I think I was sixteen the last time I made out with a girl in the back-seat of a car,” Boomer said with a grin. “Now that I’m older, I think I prefer a bed. How about you? Heavy breathing will definitely fog up the windows.” He wiped one of the windows with the palm of his hand. “I think it finally stopped raining.”

Cady laughed. “Hmmm,” was all she said. She didn’t see any point in telling him she’d never made out in the backseat of a car. She moved closer so he would kiss her again. Then his cell phone rang.

“Damn!” Boomer said. “Sorry about this,” he said, fishing his cell phone out of his pants pocket. “Yeah,” he barked. His eyebrows shot upward as he mouthed the words, “It’s Pete.” He listened, his expression turning blank. “Okay, Pete, we’re on our way. Tell Andy to take it easy, okay?”