“That’s it?” He sounded disappointed.

“What did you expect? Front-porch fornication? She had to meet with some people who were working on her house.”

“She told me about that,” he said. “I know the place. It could use some work.”

“Is your meeting over?” I asked.

“What meeting?”

“The one you were going to in such a rush.”

“You dumb shit, I didn’t have a meeting. I just wanted to give you some time alone. Christ, Bobo, are you ever going to quit being a redneck?”

“I guess not,” I said.

“Well, if you had any sense, you’d be out buying her flowers, boy. Sending them in by the goddamn truckload. In case you missed it, she’s not in the best marriage in the Western world, and you know what that means, I hope.”

“I don’t think I do,” I said. “What?”

“You’ve got a second chance, and that’s something that almost nobody gets. You blow it this time and you’re going to wind up like Avrum, locked up in an old-age home, listening to the music of memory.”

“You forget, Carter, I’m also married.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I wondered why her story sounded so familiar. I’ve heard it before.”

“Don’t you think you could be wrong?” I asked. “Isn’t it possible that she’s perfectly happy, and I’m perfectly happy, and this is nothing more than a nostalgic look back on our youth?”

Carter snorted a laugh. “Shit. Remember who you’re talking to, Bobo. Did you ask her about the painting?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It didn’t seem the right thing to do, not at the time.”

“Maybe tonight, then.”

“Maybe. But let me do it. I don’t want to bring it up until it’s the right time.”

Carter promised he would not say anything about the painting. He seemed more concerned with Libby. “I hope to God she’s not intimidated,” he said.

“I don’t think that’ll happen,” I assured him. “After all, Libby is a few years younger and she doesn’t look like the type to be intimidated.”

“Don’t start on the age thing, Bobo. Jesus, stay away from that. If it comes up, we were there in 1960. Remember that, and tell Amy.”

I promised to protect his deception.

“You know, damned if Amy’s not prettier now than she was at seventeen, and I didn’t think that would be possible,” he said.

“I can’t argue with that,” I agreed.

“All right, I’ll see you around seven tonight.”

“Seven.”

“Oh, by the way, you did a damn fine job today with Avrum’s service,” Carter added. “Beats the hell out of ‘This Little Light of Mine.’ ”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I didn’t get a standing ovation this time.”