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would be the first shock of the evening. No. “Yeah. You?”
    Theo puckered his lips the way he’d done since he was three years old and nodded. Helen pulled her tall son into an awkward hug holding him longer than she knew he was comfortable.
    She let go and took a step back. “I think you should use the money you put into my college fund to fix up the house,” Theo said. “You could get one of those stoves you’ve been drooling over.”
    Helen stiffened. She wanted him to get a college education. Because he’d struggled with schoolwork, she worried his battered ego was more the cause of his lackadaisical attitude than his lack of desire. Wanting to pay his own way seemed to be his latest excuse. Whatever the case, college would benefit him, but the more she pushed, the more he resisted.
    “We have insurance, honey.” At least she hoped it covered the fire.
    “So where’d you go? Why’d you leave food cooking?” Theo asked.
    Ben. She wasn’t ready to tell him. Opting for a half-truth, she stammered, “I went for a walk.” The lie came out stilted.
    “With food on the stove?”
    “I forgot about it, I’m getting old I guess.” She was relieved when Agatha Cashman, their neighbor, waved to them. Agatha, a sixty-something widow, reminded Helen of an updated, older, June Cleaver. Impeccable. Precise. Agatha’s dress gave her an hourglass figure, and her silver-blonde hair was wound into a tight bun.
    Neighbors for the past eight years, Agatha acted like Theo’s quasi-grandmother. Helen had comforted Agatha when her husband died, and again after Agatha had been forced into retirement. When Agatha had complained of boredom, Helen, on impulse, hired her as a part-time bookkeeper for Hot Diggitys. Ever since, Agatha tried to reform what she thought was Helen’s lax business practices.
    Agatha glanced at the suitcase next to Helen. “You two are staying with me.”
    Helen needed time to process what had happened. A shower, some clean clothes, a meal and a glass of wine would work wonders. Mostly, she wanted to be available for Theo. While staying with Agatha would be convenient, she hated being a nuisance.
    “That’s okay. We’ll get a room,” Helen said.
    “Don’t be silly. I could use the company.”
    In truth, Agatha had few visitors. Her abrupt manner and bottom-line attitude didn’t lend itself to socializing. “We couldn’t impose.”
    “Oh for heaven’s sake.” Agatha addressed Theo, “I’ve got a pot roast in the oven.”
    “I want pot roast.” Theo sounded cheered.
    “We’ve decided then,” Agatha announced.
    Helen glared at Theo, but he’d hoisted his bag on his shoulder and was already moving. Defeated, Helen offered, “I’ll pay you what we’d pay for a hotel.”
    “Oh piddle sticks. You will not. Besides, I need time to go over some ideas for Hot Diggitys with you anyway. I wouldn’t bring it up right now except that it’s good news.”
    Helen suppressed a groan. Good news or not, she didn’t want to talk about Hot Diggitys. She pinched the bridge of her nose then picked up her suitcase.
    The only two-story home on the block with a pristinely maintained flower garden, Agatha’s house was the jewel of the neighborhood. Helen didn’t like that it made her property look shoddy by comparison.
    “Shoes off,” Agatha reminded Theo on his way through the front door. “And go into the bathroom and take off those smelly clothes. I’ve got something you can fit into, so wait there.”
    Unlike his behavior at home, Theo obeyed. Helen went to the laundry room and was loading the clothes from her suitcase into the washer when Agatha entered the carrying Theo’s smoky duds.
    “I gave him some of Alfred’s old clothes. I’ll bet he loves that.” She laughed. “I’ll get you something too, so you don’t have to wear what you’ve got on.”
    A half hour later, the three sat at Agatha’s dining room table. Theo wore Alfred’s clothes while Helen sported a stretchy, gray,