Chapter 43
Jacksonville, FL
CHRIS CAME DOWNSTAIRS, showered, and dressed for the evening.
When he walked through the kitchen door, he said, “Is that apple pie about ready, Ted? Our guests will be here shortly.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Everything else is ready to go. If you want to go upstairs and get cleaned up, I’ll take over.”
“Okay.”
Ted left the kitchen and headed for the stairs. He’d been gone a minute or two when Mickey wandered into the kitchen.
“What can I do, babe?”
“The usual, only we won’t be using the dining room tonight.”
“Where are we going to eat?”
“Help me move the kitchen table out onto the back porch, will you?”
“That’s a cool idea, and this is an informal occasion. I like it.”
With practiced ease, they turned the kitchen table on its side and moved it out to the
