“Did you hear what I said? Young. Single. Guy. He’s different, sure, but he’s got prospects, and the last time I counted, he had ten fingers and ten toes.”

“I already have a boyfriend. Besides, I don’t want to date someone from home. And I sure don’t want to get married.”

“Who’s going to take care of you?”

Sherri had been on her own for so long that she almost couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be taken care of. “You mean the way you take care of Doris? Who was that woman you were with?”

Jerry lit a Viceroy, took a deep drag, and offered it to Sherri, who took it. The car filled up with smoke. He looked at her sideways, serious, no longer the cartoon Jerry the Barnacle she liked to reduce him to, but an actual man. “Doris wants nothing to do with me. Hasn’t for years. I’ll give you some free advice, Sher. Never presume to know what it’s like inside someone else’s marriage.”

At Giles, Arthur waited for Jerry at a table by the window and lit up when he saw Sherri walk through the door. She felt sheepish about being seen and sat as quickly as she could, without looking around to see who noticed her. “Jerry said your new house is old and dark and filled with raccoons,” she said.

“Nothing a pellet gun, a bulldozer, and a chainsaw can’t fix,” Jerry said.

“It’s perfect,” Arthur said.

Jerry stood behind Arthur and slapped him on the shoulders. “It’s your house now, pal. Do what you want, like what you want, build a hippie-dippie commie commune at Rainbow Springs. I’ve got to skip out and take care of some business. Your future wife here can show you what’s what in this town.” Sherri blushed, because Arthur smiled at her in a way that made her feel like they shared a secret.

“Well, thanks for the ride back,” Sherri said.

Arthur seemed suspicious. “You were at the resort awfully early, Jer.”

“Well, Sherri here called and asked me to drive her back home. How could I say no? I’ve never been one to turn down a damsel in distress. If I’m nice enough, maybe she’ll sell me her building.” He gave them his best Kojak wink, set his sunglasses back on his nose, and headed out onto the square.