A s Evvie and I drive back through Lanai

     Gardens, I find myself looking at our condos through Hope Watson's eyes. Low-rent area? Yes, I guess you could call it that. Our pretty lawns can hardly compare to the extravagant grounds at Wilmington House. The stucco paint on our buildings is getting shabby. We need a lot of repair work to fix last year's hurricane damage. No comparison to the perfection that the rich can afford. Never mind, though; it's home.

  "Hey, look over there." Evvie pokes me. We are about to pass Phase Five, when I see the police car. I pull over. To my surprise, there's Morrie Langford in conversation with some of the residents. I recognize Dora Dooley, Jack's neighbor, among them. I park and Evvie and I join them.

  For a moment I am startled. Morrie reminds me so much of his dad. Same tall height, same posture. Full head of lustrous brown hair, now salt-andpepper on his father's head. What Jack must have looked like in his thirties. Another jolt for me and I feel my pain once again. Morrie and I have become good friends since we met professionally. Now I feel at a loss as to how to behave with him. Does he know Jack and I have broken up?

  "There's Gladdy," says Sylvia Green, a tall, usually cheerful woman I know only slightly. "Just the person we want to see."

  And in minutes, we get the story. Our Peeper struck again. The woman who saw him got so frightened that they had to take her to her doctor this morning.

  Dora is practically jumping up and down, pointing an accusing finger at Morrie. "You promised your father you'd catch him."

  He smiles at the tiny woman. "I promised I'd try."

  Morrie addresses us. "I want to help but there's not much I can do. I can't spare any cars to cruise your premises all night. Unfortunately, it's not our top priority."

  "Then what are we going to do?" Alice Potts is wringing her hands.

  Morrie makes a suggestion. "Perhaps putting up motion-sensor lights on every building will make a difference. He won't be able to avoid the bright lights. That might deter him."

  I notice Jack's son won't look me in the eye. I guess he's already heard the news. "I'll call an emergency meeting of our phase. You do the same with yours," I say to the Phase Five women. "But installing lights will be very costly."

  "This has gone on long enough," Alice insists.

  "Yeah, you said that right," Dora echoes her. "Are you done now? I have to get back to my show."

  Sylvia has a solution. "Maybe if all the phases chip in we can afford those lights. I'll pass the word along to all the phase presidents."

  I promise to get in touch with my group right away.

  Morrie gives me a cursory nod and leaves.

  Evvie, watching him leave, looks surprised. "What's with the cold shoulder? What's eating him?"

  Guilt, I hope. Like father, like son? Leave when the going gets tough?

As I turn into my parking spot I see Denny's old car pulled out so that Irving and Yolie can help Millie into the backseat.

  Evvie heads upstairs to my apartment, but I amble over. "Hi. How is everyone?"

  Everyone seems nervous, that's how everyone is.

  "Is something wrong?"

  "No, nothing," Irving answers quickly. "We're

taking her for a checkup. And some tests. Just a checkup."

  "Oh, okay," I say. "Hope everything goes well."

  Denny mumbles something incoherent and Yolie doesn't look at me and I swear Irving is sweating.

  Millie giggles one of her inappropriate laughs. "They're such liars." Then, as it is with her, it's as if a light goes off and she's comatose once again.

  Denny rolls out of the parking area, burning rubber.

  Strange.

  I know one day we're going to have to convince Irving to put Millie in an Alzheimer's hospital. He looks exhausted. I know he can't take much more.

"Yes, Mr. Ferguson, I'm pretty sure Evvie and I will be getting into Wilmington House. The board might call you to confirm what we're doing."

  I nod at Evvie, who is leaning so far over my shoulder in order to listen that she is practically on my lap. I'll bet Shirley's doing the same on the other side of the phone. I listen a few moments and then Evvie pokes me, covering her mouth in order to hide her laughing openly.

  "That's a very good idea, Alvin. In both our names. And very generous of you." Now I can hear Shirley yelling, "Are you crazy?" in the background. "Thank you. We'll keep you informed."

  I hang up. Evvie hugs me. "Wow! A charge account at Wilmington House!"

  "Down, girl. That's to pay the rental on the apartment and for the few sundries we might need."

  "Yeah, yeah." Evvie dances around the room. "I heard him. Toothpaste and hairspray, stuff like that."

  "We have a fiscal responsibility to keep our charges low."

  Evvie heads out the door. "I heard you. Yum yum! I just can't wait to move into our fancy retirement hotel. Maybe I'll nab some old rich guy and never have to leave again!"

Lying in bed that night, I can't stop thinking about Jack and wondering where he is. I remember how the two of us showered in our outdoor waterfall in Pago Pago. How cool the water was. The first time we saw each other naked. How his body fit so well against mine. How we teased, saying we'd wait until later, but later never came. I play the scene over and over again, each time demanding of myself that I stop. But I can't.

  Maybe I'm kidding myself. Maybe I don't need the aggravation of having a man in my life. Everything was much simpler before. And yet— that incredible feeling of pleasure. At what price?

  Now I can hardly wait to get to Wilmington

House where I can worry about Esther Ferguson's Romeo and not my own. And what price did she pay for her pleasure? Oh, such dark and dreary thoughts.

  I turn on the TV and catch a comedy show.

  I will not let Jack get me down.