‘So,’ she said when she saw his eyes, ‘Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? Me and Brad are doing up some steaks by the pool. Maybe a...salad and ice cream?’ ‘Y’all still over in that complex off Northwest Highway?’ ‘Yup.’ ‘Well, sure. Unless…’ ‘Yeah, I know, I know. There he is, ladies and germs: Joe Ace, Traffic Reconstructionist Extraordinaire. Gets called to go work every bad wreck in the county.’ Acheson grinned. ‘I never, ever shoulda taken calculus. No good ever came from taking. "Should I be jealous?" Sarah laughed: "And are you?" Just a bit, I suppose." She laughed again and gripped his hand."Well, that's something new, Honey! But you don't need to worry—not including my dad, there are only two really impor­tant men in my life! So where are we staying, is it far from here?" No, it's not far. Montparnasse is only about four miles. It's my friend Sophie's place." Sarah squeezed his hand a bit tighter."So should I be the one who's jealous?" I don't think so. In fact I. I'll have to back and live with my mother and go to school. I still have a year before I graduate. I will be seventeen by then, though." Oh, when is your birthday?" July, tenth." I'll have to remember when it is." That would be nice. I suppose we should go home. I don't want your mom to think you and I were doing something we shouldn't be doing. Especially after what has happened in your family." I raised my seat back from the position it was reclining. Ginger didn't and she acted as she wanted. I mean yes, I am ... I'm Gretchen ... Hobbes. That's my fatherin there." I point back towards the shop.She frowns then stands up. "We've met." She walks over to me, stoppingto give me the once over. I'm used to that, people often look closelyat me, because I'm so tall, though she's almost as tall as I am.Patty's Dad must have been short.She looks at me a little wistfully and smiles. * * * *** * * * *** * * *I'd seen pictures of her but never in person. She looks much likeAlisha would at this.