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Chuck leaned on the reception desk “How are you doing today?”

“Great,” Julie said, gesturing in the direction of the“We’re watching our custodian cut the lawn That’s hoe pass our day around here”

“He’s fun to watch,” Emily chimed in

Chuck gazed out theand watched as Ian made another pass with the mower He chuckled

“Well, don’t get too excited, girls,” he said, adding in a stage whisper, “he bats for the other team”

“Really? Are you sure?” Julie asked

“Fro his eyebrows

Paul took a deep breath He wanted to punch the satisfied smirk off the mailman’s face In fact, he wasn’t that kindly disposed to the entire postal service at the lared at the ht pass for intense concentration on his personal correspondence He should have gone back into his office right then, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave—he didn’t want to hear another word and he didn’t want toBoth Emily and Julie were now focused completely on Chuck, their eyes wide

“You mean…,” Emily said

“He’s pretty,” Chuck said, more to himself than to Emily or Julie, “but he’s kind of a train wreck”

Paul bit the inside of his cheek A train wreck? How dare he? Paul coh the neck with a letter opener

“He’s not now,” Julie said “He’s not drinking now I think he’s really turned things around He’s really nice”

“That’s good,” Chuck said, still gazing out the“I hope he has Well, neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night, or whatever it is” Then he gave a little wave and continued on his route

“Wow” Julie turned to Paul, delighted with this bit of juicy gossip “Did you knoas gay?”

“No,” he said, and he retreated into his office still holding everybody’s les of the toh the closed door He couldn’t ested the topic had not changed He slumped into his chair and rested his forehead on his pal jumble Why had he lied? Why didn’t he say of course he’d known Ian was gay, like it was no big deal? He felt guilty He was afraid The gossip had started How long could it be before it involved hi behind his back soon, and that would only be the beginning