“Hello, Graham,” she said as she waltzed into his office like she owned it. “So you’re finally sitting in the big office. This is where I imagined we’d be when I married you. I’d take over Vivien’s desk and you’d be right here, but your parents didn’t like me.”

“My parents were disappointed that I wasn’t going to college, and Vivien wasn’t ready to retire. What are you doing in Celeste?” he asked.

Rita’s makeup did what it could, but it didn’t cover all the crow’s-feet or wrinkles around her mouth. She still wore her trademark bright-red lipstick. And he wasn’t surprised to see that her skirt was way too short and tight for a woman her age. When she crossed her legs, he could see all the way to the crotch of her lace panties.

“My grandmother—do you remember her?” She pulled a silver cigarette container from her purse. “Mind if I smoke?”

“This is a smoke-free place, so you’ll have to wait. And yes, I remember your grandmother very well. She lived up around Whitewright and was in a nursing home, right?”

“She died. I stayed in Sherman last night and attended her funeral this morning—just a graveside. I thought about asking if the girls might want to go, but they wouldn’t remember her.” She dropped the cigarette case back into her purse. “You’re lookin’ good, Graham.”

“Thank you.” He’d thought about the moment that they’d see each other again at least a thousand times over the past years. Right after she left, the idea of ever seeing her again was both painful and brought on anger. Now the pain had subsided, but there was still more anger than he wanted to admit.

“That’s all you’ve got to say. Just thank you? You could tell me that I look good, too.”

“You look good, too, Rita,” he quipped.

“I go to the gym every day, and I’m determined not to ever dress like an old woman. I’m glad you noticed that I’m not giving in to age, but I didn’t come here to fight with you. I just thought I’d drop in and break the ice. That way when you and the girls come to the wedding, it won’t be awkward between us.” She uncrossed her legs and bent forward, giving him a good look at the edges of a black-lace bra and lots of cleavage.

“I’m not going to the wedding. I’ve reserved a room in a nearby hotel. I’ll drop them off and pick them up. And things will always be awkward between us, Rita. How could they not be? You left me with two little girls to raise by myself and didn’t even call them for years and years.”