The Widow's Mate by Ralph McInerny Page A

around at the old people scattered among the tables, and the scowl returned. What the hell was he doing in a place like this? It had seemed a good decision: Plunk down a wad of money and say good-bye to all the usual frets and cares of living; no more bills, only the phone bill; he had housekeeping service, a neighborhood with dozens of distractions. But how many times can you walk along Navy Pier and find it interesting? Several times, Luke had come back to his building semidrunk from sitting over a series of beers, half watching a game on television, bored stiff.
    â€œWhat’s he do, anyway?”
    Melissa smiled. “He shoots baskets.”
    Luke stared at her. He had put up that backboard himself, and he had memories of playing one-on-one with Wally. Losing to his son had never hurt although he hated to lose at anything. Wally’s winning was like himself winning, so how could he lose?
    â€œI want him out of there.”
    â€œOkay. Okay.”
    Luke looked at her. Melissa was still beautiful, and she had held her chin up during the long period while the search for Wally went on and afterward. His daughters thought she would marry again, but she hadn’t. If she had, it would have been like the final blow to his hopes. Suddenly Luke understood why he reacted so strongly to the news that Greg Packer was occupying the garage apartment. He was Melissa’s age; they had known one another as kids; proximity was a dangerous thing between a man and a woman—and of course Melissa was a woman. The character that had kept her loyal to Wally could be worked on by a bum like Packer. The thought of the man moving from the garage into the house was too much. “I mean it.”
    â€œI said all right.”
    â€œI’ll go back with you.”
    â€œNo, no, Dad. I said I’d take care of it. I really had no idea you would object.”
    â€œSo why did you want to see me?” he said, his tone turning a page in the conversation.
    â€œDo I need a special reason?”
    Her hand covered his. She still wore her wedding ring. God bless her. Luke still wore his, all these years after Dora was gone. He turned his hand and squeezed Melissa’s. “More coffee?
    She shook her head.
    â€œI don’t blame you. It’s weak as dishwater.”
    â€œHave you made lots of friends?” She was looking around the cafeteria.
    â€œThe place is full of widows.”
    â€œBe careful.”
    â€œHa.” Thank God Maud wasn’t in evidence. There was no way he could avoid introducing Melissa to her.
    The thought seemed fanfare for her appearance. In the lobby, the elevator doors opened, and Maud stepped out, saw Luke, and came right up to him. She looked at Melissa with mock suspicion. “Is he trying to pick you up?”
    â€œMaud, this is my daughter-in-law!”
    Thus Maud was introduced to Melissa, and Luke could only imagine what stories would begin to circulate. Ever since he had hinted to Amos Cadbury at the possibility of remarrying, he had regretted it. Melissa was beaming at Maud. Her arm went around Luke. She might have been blessing them.
    â€œMaud is one of the cleaning ladies.”
    â€œOh, stop it, or I’ll scrub out your mouth.”
    They went on, he and Maud, like a comic routine, to Melissa’s delight. Damn it.
    â€œBeautiful girl,” Maud said when Melissa had kissed him, patted Maud’s arm, and gone through the revolving doors.
    â€œGirl! She’s middle-aged.”
    â€œAnd you said your daughters were fat.”
    Luke let it go. Now that Melissa was gone, his anger that Gregory Packer was occupyng the apartment over the garage in the Flanagan house in Fox River returned. If Maud hadn’t shown up, he would have driven to Fox River and kicked that SOB out of the apartment.
    â€œI’ll buy you a beer.”
    â€œOnly if I can buy you one.”
    â€œThat sounds fair.”
    She took his arm and steered him toward the