“But it does give you pause for thought. Life is short. When Rina feels like joining the human race again, I’m going to take a few days off.”

“Don’t be too radical, Pete.”

“Nah, never. I’m Joe American Dad, Margie. Mr. Straitlaced, Middle-Aged Fart.”

“You’re not that bad.”

“No, actually, I’m not. But I gotta act the part.” He grinned. “Otherwise my boys’ll have nothing to rebel against.”

Ginger’s barking woke Decker up from a luxurious Sunday nap. He arose from his living room couch, rolling his shoulders to relieve them of stiffness. Stretched a moment. It hurt. He gave his hair a cursory comb with his fingers, then answered the knock on the door.

Eerie seeing Luke. At present, garbed in black, his weight loss, his longer hair, and his glasses, he looked indistinguishable from Bram. As if that entire ordeal had been just a terrible nightmare.

“Did I wake you, Lieutenant?”

“Uh…no; the dog did.” Decker smiled. “It’s okay.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Not too bad.”

“Sorry to bother you at home.”

“How’s your family?”

“Fucked.”

Decker said nothing.

“Sorry, but it’s the truth,” Luke said. “I could lie, say that Abram’s death made us closer, made us appreciate one another. But the sad thing is…we’re the same people. Worse. Because we lost our family glue. And the world lost a truly good man.”

He looked down, then up.

“Ain’t a day that has gone by…when I haven’t looked in the mirror…and pretended my reflection was him. Most of the time, when I reach out at it and feel that cold, slick surface, reality just slaps me across the face. But then there are times…times when my fingers melt with his…”

Luke rubbed his green eyes under his glasses. He smiled coldly. “Maybe that’s drugs talking.”

Decker waited a beat, then said, “What can I do you for, Mr. Sparks?”

“Actually, I came to see your wife. Is she home?”

Decker paused. “I’ll go get her. You want to come in?”

“No, thanks, I’ll just wait here.”

Luke tore into his thumbnail as he waited. A moment later, Rina appeared, a child of around three riding her hip. A real looker that woman was even with the scarf covering her hair. Made her even more desirable. He had a sudden urge to rip it off and see what was underneath.

“Hello,” Rina said.

“Mrs. Decker…” Luke’s eyes moved sideways. “Thanks for seeing me.”

Rina waited. Her husband was still with her. Luke glanced at him and said nothing.

Decker relieved Rina of the baby. “Come on, Hannah Rosie. Let’s go play in the orchard.”

“Your shoulder, Peter. Let her walk.”

“I’m fine.” To Luke, Decker said, “Excuse us.”

“Can I pick the oranges, Daddy?” Hannah asked.

“Yes, you can pick the oranges.”

“Can I throw the oranges, Daddy?”