I debated for half a second and then said, "Look, I know this is none of my business, but I think William was out of line when he talked you into flying out. Henry and Mattie were doing fine until you showed up."

Lewis blinked at me as though I were speaking in tongues. "I don't understand."

"You didn't have to barge in on breakfast and ask her for a date."

"I didn't ask her for a date. I suggested an art exhibit and a bite of lunch."

"Out here, we call that a date. Henry was upset and rightly so," I said.

Lewis seemed bewildered. "He was upset with me?"

"Sure he was. She was supposed to be spending time with him."

"Why didn't he speak up?"

"How could he? You called him a little old lady, in front of Mattie, no less. He was mortified. He couldn't speak up without looking even more foolish than he already felt."

"But that was just good-natured jostling. It was a joke."

"It's not a joke when you hustle in and try to beat him to the punch. Life's complicated enough."

"But we've always competed for the ladies. It's all in good fun. Neither of us takes it seriously. For heaven's sake, ask William if you doubt my word."

"He's never going to cop to it. He set the whole thing up. He had no business meddling, but what you did was worse. You knew Henry was interested in her."

"Of course he is and I am, too. That was obvious on the cruise. I made my pitch and he made his. If he can't handle the challenge, why complain to me?"

"Mattie broke it off. She said she didn't want to see him again."

Disconcerted, Lewis said, "Oh. Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but it's got nothing to do with me."

"Yes, it does. You flew out to California and got right in the middle of something that was none of your concern. There's nothing 'good-natured' about that. You were being hostile."

"No, no. Not a bit of it. I can't believe you're saying this. I'd cut off my right arm before I'd do such a thing."

"But you did do it, Lewis."

"You're completely wrong. That wasn't my intention. Henry's always been my favorite. He knows I'm crazy about him."

"Then you better find a way to make amends," I said.

It was close to 8:00 when Reba emerged from her AA meeting and headed toward my car. It was still light out. A massive fog bank hovered on the horizon and the breezes coming off the ocean laid a chill in the air. "Feel better?"

"Not especially, but I'm glad I went."

"You still want to have dinner?"

"Shit, we have to go back to the house. I forgot the photographs."

"Why do you need those?"