Well, isn’t that nice,’ she said finally. She turned it toward Macon. The photo was in soft dreamy colors and gentle lighting, and showed Muriel seated, with Alexander standing in front of her. Neither of them smild. They looked watchful and uncertain,and very much alone.
Macon said, ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘Hmm,’ Mrs Dugan said, and laid the photo on thetable.
Mr Dugan reappeared for dinner and became quite talkative.
He was a car salesman and had firm opinions on what car Macon
Should be driving.Listening to him, and to Muriel and her
Mother arguing about Alexander’s health problems, Macon
Wondered what Sarah would say if she could see him here. Or
Rose and his brothers. He knew what Julian would say. ‘Ha! Accidental Tourist in Timonium.’
Back home that evening,they sat in the living room.
‘I know what you must be thinking,’ Muriel said. ‘You’re thinking that Mueiel is just on the lookout for anybody in trousers. I expect you want to stop seeing me.’
‘Why would I want to stop seeing you?’
‘After how bad Ma made me look.’
‘You didn’t look bad.’
‘Oh,no?’
‘Last Christmas,’ Macon said, ‘was very hard to get through. It was the first one without Ethan. We didn’t know what to do, and we got it all wrong. It was a terrible Christmas.’
He smoothed Muriel’s hair off forehead. ‘This one was better,’ he said.