Arch was already on the other side of the bar, at a table with a group of two men who looked to be about Jim’s age and a guy about our age, a louche preppy with a deep tan that brought the sun out in the shock of blond hair that fell across his forehead. I looked back at Jamie. A flash of disappointment flickered across his face, and he was again familiar to me.

It was an expression I recognized from the very first day I had known him, drinking beer after beer by his pool. Now, Arch was the master of Jamie’s old house, and Jamie was still the same boy—only nursing his loneliness with top-shelf scotches instead of beer and a host of “friends” with tabs that most likely went forever unpaid.

“I love what you’ve done to the place,” I said.

“It’s great, isn’t it? I brought the chef in from Charleston. He’s an award winner. Write-ups in Gourmet and Southern Living. We’ve been open for almost two years now. Packed every night. You wouldn’t believe how much has changed around here. We’re bringing Midtown back.”

“That’s great,” I said. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“I hear you’ve had some other changes in your life.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Let me put it to you this way: Marriage and kids are the best things that will ever happen to you. Put them off for as long as possible.”

He pulled out his wallet to show me pictures of his son.

“He’s beautiful,” I said.

“It changes you, you know,” he said.

“Absolutely,” I said, though I had yet to see evidence of much change beyond his having lost hair and gained weight.

He slipped his wallet back into his pocket and wrapped his arm around my neck.

“Man,” he said. “I didn’t realize how much I missed you ’til I saw that sweet face of yours walking through the door.”

“I missed you too,” I said.

“How long are you home? For good, I hope.”

The sweetness in my face must have gone sour; Jamie went a bit pale.

“Oh shit,” he said. “I mean, I know you’re not home just for a visit, but I was just hoping maybe you’d be around for a while. I always loved your mom, you know. She’s been so good to the old man, whether he deserves it or not.”

“It seems that way.”

“So you’ve been out to the farm?”

“This afternoon.”

Jamie shook his head. “Goddamn,” he said. “Ten years. Has it really been that long?”

“It seems strange, doesn’t it?”