We stood leaning our forearms on the railing and watched the boats and the people and the ducks, green and quiet in the middle of the city. “It sounds like Jeannie’s mother might have wanted to promote you as her daughter’s boyfriend,” Susan said. “I think that was one thing she wanted,” I said. “And the other?” “I was a way to three eligible bachelors,” I said. “Two for one,” Susan said. “A boyfriend for her daughter and one for her. She seems in retrospect a woman who needed a man, who thought all women needed a man.” “She stayed a long time with one of the worst men in the world,” I said. “To some, a bad man is better than no man,” Susan said. “I stayed a long time with the wrong husband.” “I think you’ve changed since then,” I said. “Yes, I think so,” Susan said. “Did your father and your uncles go for dinner?” “They did,” I said. “What was that like?” “They went the way they went to PTA meetings and stuff,” I said. “They didn’t want to go.
