“How is the PR firm?” he asked. “On steady ground?”

“Steadier every day,” I said. “Three years since we opened, and we’re making it. We’re hoping to land a contract with the Warren Manufacturing Group. You know, the outfit that makes screen doors.”

“Sexy.”

“They have a lot of money. And I think it’s going to happen. A whole social media and branding campaign for them. That would be a nice shot in the arm.”

“Look at you,” he said. “A businessman.”

“Kind of.”

“And you’re looking good, Ryan,” he said. “As always.”

“Bullshit. I’ve gained five or ten pounds since Henry was born. They don’t tell you that when you have a kid everybody on earth brings you food. And you eat it. And then you just sit around, taking care of a baby. Maybe when he starts crawling I’ll lose a little.”

“Five or ten pounds?” He looked me up and down, even dropping his head and peeking under the table as though the extra weight might have been hidden there. “Where? You’ve always been so trim. So disciplined. In college, two slices of pizza when the rest of us ate four. Usually just two beers when the rest of us . . . Well, you know. Some of us had far too many.”

“I didn’t always stop at two,” I said, looking down at my own steaming mug. My face flushed, and not from the heat of the coffee. “You know that better than anyone.”

“It was rare.”

“I’m flattered you think of me as such a model of virtue and restraint, but usually I didn’t eat or drink as much because I didn’t have enough money to buy it. Unless you bought it for me.”

“No charge,” he said. “How’s your mom? She good?”

“Yeah, she’s good. She’s busy teaching. She’s going to come and see Henry in July.”

“Will you tell her I said hello?”

“I will. She always asks about you. And speaking of Henry . . . I really need to know what this emergency is. I have a growing baby who likes to poop and cry. And a wife who’s been stuck with him all day. And I don’t want to miss bedtime.”

“Sam has shown me the pictures. Instagram, Facebook.”

“Sam has? You mean . . . ?”

“That’s what I’m here to talk about. But, yes, Sam has shown me the pictures.”

“And she hasn’t convinced you to join the social media world? You’re still a Luddite?”

He dismissed me by waving a hand. “That’s your thing, not mine. I just don’t need to put all my business out there. Some things are meant to be private. But he is a beautiful kid. You all look pretty damn happy. And you sure post often enough.”