"He invited me."The other guy spoke up. "Are you Porter?" Yeah," I confirmed.He looked over at his companion. "Bryan told me he was expecting this guy..." He motioned me in. "Him and Mel are over on the side," he said, pointing toward the corner of the house where the porch wrapped around."Okay, thanks," I said. I wove my way through the mass of bodies in the direction indicated. I had only gone maybe a half-dozen sliding steps when somebody thrust a plastic cup of foamy beer into my hand."You. "Never saw you before." We made love," I said, reaching over and touching her chin. "Several times, and you told me about your late husband and about all the seminarians you laid."She made a wry face and swallowed. "Any more ale?" she asked, holding up her empty mug. I filled it."And then there was a fight and a fire. What happened to you?"She sat back, licked her lips, took a deep breath and said, "Opium." Her eyes were as flat as river stones.I waited, waving at the girl for another pitcher. But as he started to make his way over, he heard his mother's voice coming from his front door."Jamie! I need you for a minute!" Marlene exclaimed before she let the screen door slam behind her.He ran over to the house, worried that there may be an emergency of some sort."Are you okay, Mom? Is there something wrong?" No, there's nothing wrong. I just need for you to help me with my bags. Could you please carry these out to the truck for me?" Marlene asked as Brian walked past her to take his. Turning and looking at me you asked ‘where are you headed?’ with a little grin and I said ‘to Nashville for business’. You smiled and lit another smoke, I pulled another smoke out of my pack and put it up to my lips and you reached over and lit it for me. ‘Thank you, so where are you headed?’ You smiled again and said ‘To Nashville as well, for pleasure I think.’ I said ‘You think?’ and you replied ‘Yes, it is looking that way.’ I thought that was a little odd but now I couldn’t take my eyes.