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"Chardonnay"

She held a finger up "Bingo! That’s correct"

The interior of the house was surprisinglyroom walls were painted cobalt blue and the hall was done in rust The floors were polished hardwood and the furniture design was stark and uninviting The paintings were oversized and abstract, bright splashes of red, white, and yellow

"I’m Avis, by the way That ‘Mrs Jent’ malarkey is for the birds Archie Jent was est, but I’ineer, if you know the type He walked around looking like he was trying to shit a bowling ball I went on the wagon for a while and realized I liked him better when I was drunk I decided to keep his last na my rent Are you ood We can compare notes I had a couple stinkers How about you?"

"I wish I could say they were at fault, but I carried half the blame"

"Oh, please Don’t pretend you’re fair-" We’d arrived in the kitchen, which was stark white, anchored by dark green marble surfaces The appliances were stainless steel Copper pots hung frolass-fronted wine cooler, pulling out first the top rack and then the next one down She re, "Talbott, Diamond T"

She held it out so I could see the label as well "You know the wine?"

"I don’t" I peered at the year, which was 1985, and wondered if that was a good one

"Well, you’re in for a treat I go through a case of Diamond T every other week In between assorted other cocktails Shit" She’d knocked the live earette and it settled on the floor near her bare foot like a set that for me? Paper towels are under the sink"

I stepped on the e I tore off a sheet, wet it, and made quick work of the ash, which I tossed in the wastebasket

While she struggled to uncork the wine, I said, "Mind if I look around?"