Fiji never wanted Bobo to go away. Keeping him from knowing how much she craved his company was her problem, not how to get rid of him. “No, fine, come sit,” she said, mortified at how lame she sounded. “Want a cup of tea? A scone?” She had had plans for the second scone, but she would gladly give it to Bobo. Maybe not the one sitting on her plate, but the second one . . . sure.

“That would be great, if you have extra,” he said hopefully, and took the second chair after Fiji removed her gardening gloves from the seat. Once inside, Fiji flew around her little kitchen. It only took a moment to prepare his tea and to arrange his scone on a little plate with a pat of margarine and a knife to spread it.

“You do everything nice,” Bobo said, looking at the pale green cup and dish.

Fiji glanced down at her paint-stained sweatshirt. “Not everything,” she muttered.

Her guest took a big sip of his tea and a bite of the scone. “How’s your house?” he asked, after he’d had a good look at the garden and the cat, appreciating both. “You need anything fixed?”

He’s so damn nice, she thought. Why didn’t I get a fixation on a plain man?

She scoured her mind for some fix-it job for Bobo. “The Formica on my kitchen counter,” she said. “There’s like a strip around the edge of the counter? And it’s getting loose at one end. Probably you just glue it back on, right? With superglue?”

Bobo brightened. “Hot glue would be better. Got a hot glue gun?”

“I don’t think so,” Fiji said. “I’m not too crafty.” In any sense, she thought, with some regret.

“I’ll bring mine over,” he said. “I have to track it down. I’ll call.”

“That’s well worth the scone.” She made herself relax, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. She had to teach herself not to tense up when Bobo was around. “I’m so glad it’s cooling off in the daytime. At least a smidgen. You know what we ought to do? We ought to plan a citywide picnic day, now that it’s slightly less brutal weather.”

“Citywide?”

“Yes.” Fiji was firm. “Townwide sounds too podunk; hamletwide sounds too precious. Everyone in Midnight, even the Rev, should come. We’ll all bring some food, walk over to the Río Roca Fría, and have a fall picnic. The restaurant is closed on Monday. So are the pawnshop and the salon. A potluck picnic would be fun.”

“You think Shawn and Creek and Connor would come? Shawn’s open every day.”