“Thank you, sir,” Scott said, continuing his cheery act. It’s showtime. When an event was about to start, that’s what Hayley would say to her workers. It’s showtime, everybody! Scott pulled through the open gate. I hope everything works out so I can see her on Saturday, he thought. We always have a good time.

The houses in the complex were all attractive one-story brick structures, built very close together, obviously well cared for. There wasn’t a single one that screamed for the attention of a handyman. Not like the neighborhood I spent my early years in, Scott thought. One neighbor’s front yard was nothing but overgrown weeds, another guy painted his house a neon color that made Scott wince, then let it peel, and a third idiot never bothered to remove a plastic display of Santa and his reindeer from the roof when the Christmas season was over. A windstorm the following July blew it onto the front lawn, where it remained for months.

Scott located the Binders’ home, parked in front on the narrow, curving street, and turned off the car. Everything was so calm and orderly, he felt a little nervous. This might not be so easy. People who were too orderly weren’t his best targets. He preferred the type whose paperwork was in a jumble and who couldn’t keep track of their affairs. With resolve, Scott grabbed his briefcase, got out of the car, and walked up the path to the front porch. He pointed his well-manicured finger at the buzzer and pressed hard.

“Scott!” Betty Binder exclaimed when the door flew open. “How lovely to see you again.” The tiny eighty-six-year-old woman was dressed in pale pink pants, a short-sleeved pale pink top, and white sneakers. Her white hair was well coiffed, her pretty, lined face carefully made up just like last night. She grabbed Scott’s hand. “Come in, dear!”

“Thank you.” He stepped into the beautifully appointed foyer and glanced around. “This is lovely.”

“It’s home,” Betty chirped, obviously pleased. “I love to decorate. Isn’t that stone tile pretty?”

“Gorgeous,” Scott answered, then looked in her eyes. “I have to tell you. It was such a wonderful surprise to meet you last night. I can’t get over it.”

“For us, too!” Betty grabbed Scott’s arm as she gazed up at him. “I get chills thinking about that moment when Jillian screamed, ‘Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!’ I love romantic movies but to witness a beautiful moment like that in real life …” She put her hands up to her face. “I get all teary-eyed thinking about it. And then to have the chance to spend time with you and Jillian, such nice young people. It just doesn’t happen very often in this crazy world.”