What the universe sent next was a couple of the hens, Barb and Chloe, their names were, who arrived carrying bouquets of flowers, two trays of hors d’oeuvres, more wine bottles, and a cake decorated with fondant roses. Barb was the one with the spiky black hair and joke-shop glasses. Chloe was blond and brittle and made me think that my mom was probably right about sunscreen.

Viridian said, “You remember Carla, don’t you?”

They did but I could tell that they would rather not have. They ignored me and crowded into the kitchen, deciding where the things they’d brought should go, and what should be refrigerated, and what needed to be done first, and clearly it was their show now. Although it would have been entertaining, in a sick way, to watch when Oscar came in and found them adding salt to his tomato sauce, instead I went out and sat in the truck to wait for Aaron.

He pulled up twenty minutes later. I hadn’t told him to dress up, but he had, in a black shirt and tan pants, and I loved him for coming and for looking so good, so tall and badass.

He got into my truck. “You,” I said, “are the sexiest bald guy in two counties.”

“Thanks, I guess. What’s going on here?”

“I mean it, you look awesome. You look like one of those preachers who holds services for biker gangs. It’s a dinner party with a lot of poets coming. It’s a cultural occasion. Did you bring my dress?”

“Yeah. And a six-pack. They drink beer, right? What are we doing here anyway?”

I said I’d been working on the garden and she’d invited us to the dinner. It was close enough to the truth and it made me sound a little less like a stalker. Aaron considered this.

“When did you turn into a poetry groupie?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh wow,” he said, seeing Oscar, who had come out of the house and was poking at the firepit. “Orange.”

Oscar and Aaron seemed happy to see each other, which surprised me a little. Maybe it was a guy thing to bond over your stupid drunk escapades. Aaron offered Oscar a beer and the two of them stood around the firepit, which was another guy thing, although by rights they should have a haunch of beef or elk to grill.

I went inside to look for a bathroom to change clothes. It was the weirdest house, with half flights of stairs leading to rooms that opened directly into other rooms, and hallways that zigged and zagged. I found a small bathroom not too far from the front door. Viridian and Barb and Chloe were back in the kitchen; I heard them laughing.