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"I never thought of myself as particularly lucky," Al said "I do now"

"I knohat you et out of here by six at the latest Laine’s dad is in town and she’s going to take hins ofwell, getting old and fragile She doesn’t want hiets so to take care of that She’ll be gone awhile"

"I thought Laine’s father was a doctor," Al said

"Apparently theycare of their health Who knew?"

"No problee the station, you know that"

Eric slapped a hand on his back "I rely on you a lot, Al And I appreciate it I hope you know that"

Al grinned "Thatin the Christ time froot a kick out of calling this kid "boss" He wondered if Eric ever thought about that He could actually have been Al’s son, being eighteen years younger

It was about four in the afternoon when Ray Anne stopped by for her quarter tank of gas She earing a hot-pink skirt and jacket, Ray Anne’s version of the business suit And those heels that brought her up to five-foot-seven, when she was really struggling to e and a great big sht her sexy clothes were cute

"How’s it going today?" she asked, laying a hand full of hot-pink enaernails on his forear her eyes sparkle "I can’t get away early tonight Eric’s got family business and I have to close the shop and take the calls for tows There et out of here till eleven, but if you’re feeling young and energetic and maybe can sleep in late tomorroe could spend a little time on the roof"

"I can do that," she said

"Don’t let ," he said "You don’t have to stay dressed up You can put on your pajamas and lotions--I like you that way, too Fact is, I like you all ways"

"So an ankle to reveal the heels

"I think they’re hot," he said "You can wear ’em with your pajamas if you want, but it’s not necessary You keep my attention just fine in bare feet with cotton between your toes"

"I’ll be up," she said "I’ll have a cold beer for you and a glass of wine forshow, but the stars are nice up there on the roof"

"I’ll see you later," he said And he felt better than he had in hours

When Al got to Ray Anne’s house she was not in her pajaet the beanbags up on the roof along with a throw and a couple of candles They took their drinks and got settled in and all the while Al was thinking, This wos are kind of upside down around here," he said She was snuggled up close to him and just hummed "There’s the situation with Justin and his brothers--that has his friends from orried The kid should catch a break And Eric said Laine’s pretty worried about her father She’s going to take hi"

"Tell me more about Justin and his brothers," she said

He told her the full story, starting with the day Eric asked him to look out for Justin up to that fateful day the ambulance took his ine I never had younger siblings or children of my own"

"Did you want theer But I wasn’t married to ht?"

"Do you regret it?" he asked

"Al, I have a pile of regrets," she said with a laugh "But I also have a nice big stack of good ood choices for h for ood place to be," he said

"You’re one of my better choices"

"Ray, you’re one sweet little honey That’s for sure"

"Aw, I like hearing that"

"You’re awful good to oodfarht the idea of a bunch of kids was exactly what I was cut out for Life on the fared your ed, yeah I ht away and even though far is hard, we couldn’t have been happier We had a baby, a boy, and he died of crib death"

"Aw, Al, I’m so sorry"