"Make that two." She told him that she was going to find a way to stay in town. They agreed that it was a good place to be. "I mean, it might be fun here in the winter," she said. "A lot fewer people, I bet."
"Have to get warm coats," Patrick said. They were agreeing, without actually discussing it, to spend the winter together. Patrick walked her all the way home and then walked back after a long hug which stayed with her as she slipped beneath her covers on the porch. How good is this? she asked herself. Very good. As she and Patrick passed through town, a voice had come out of a doorway.
"Patrick, old buddy."
"Hey, Billy," Patrick said, stopping.
"You got a buck for some cigarettes?"
"Yeah, man." Patrick reached into his pocket. "They aren't doing you any good, Billy."
"There's worse."
"I guess . . . This is Willow."
Billy looked her up and down. "Willow, huh—now there's a pretty name.
You take care of her, Patrick. She's a good one."
"I'm rotten to the core, Billy," she had said. That started him laughing and coughing.