“Naw. I’m moving to her place. You can come and see me there, she got a real nice brownstone in the South End. Those girls make good money! I’ll be the house husband, take care of her. That’s all she needs, someone just to take care of her, a man to come home to that’s different from the rest. And that’s me, I’m different! But I can cook for her, I know how to cook, once I get shown where everything is. I’ll clean too, I’m very clean!”

“I know you are, Fitz. You keep your place looking great.”

“That’s the same thing she said. I had her over last Sunday afternoon, made her a chicken dinner. She was so surprised how I keep things. How I made her such a nice plate of eats. You know what she did when I put that plate in front of her? She started crying like a baby. Say she misses so much back in Alabama. Say she started out so different, when she were a little girl. We had a long talk, and then, I don’t know, just seemed right, I popped the question. Sure did. On bended knee! I loved her a long time, she got a voice like velvet, but I have to say I surprised my own self saying those words, ‘Will you marry me.’ I been a bachelor for a long time! And you know what? She said yes quick as lightning. Just as grateful as can be. All it is, she need love the same as everybody else. A place to come home and be natural. You see someone such a big star like that, you think they got everything they need. But then you give them some chicken and biscuits and the truth comes out.” He chuckles. “Yeah, the truth comes out.”

I unroll the blood pressure cuff, put the stethoscope around my neck. “Well. I’m really happy for you. Now let’s see if all this good news has helped out your blood pressure.”

I check it, take the stethoscope out of my ears, smile, and say, “Guess what.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” he says. “I already know.”

• • •

Ann Peters is dressed in a white linen pantsuit when I arrive, a matinee-length pearl necklace, matching studs. After our visit, she’s going into Boston for lunch at the Four Seasons.