Alpheus threw down his rake. “Time for anything but work.”
“Your girl in the house?” Alpheus nodded. “Bring her.” He bustled away, full of a
purpose he hadn’t felt in years.
He led them to the domino table, where Joe and Flora had obediently remained. Seeing
him, they rose, knowing.
After the ceremony, Alpheus and his maid went home, and the three remaining looked
at each other awkwardly. Nick finally reached over and rearranged the domino tiles, leaving a
two at each end of the train.
“Block game,” he said. “No getting out of it now. This will be registered in the diocese.
Flora, against all odds, it looks like you’ve married yourself another Catholic.”
Joe shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Old Wheeler here doesn’t seem to care either way. And
you can have the block. You need a win more’n I do, I guess.”
The old friends locked eyes. Then Nick bent down and chucked Wheeler’s ears. “You
know, Joe, for an atheist you sure do like to play dog.”
26
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