"You don't have to buy it. I'll give it to you. It's yours."
"Don, you must take something at least—for the materials." She went into the living room and returned with a check which she handed to him. "I have wanted that painting for so long," she said, breaking a silence.
"That's a hell of a lot of materials."
"Good. More paintings! It's worth ten times that."
"Quite so," Riles said.
"Well." Don raised his glass. "Thanks."
"Bon voyage." They clinked glasses and that was that. Riles and Kai were skilled at such things; they had a knack for moving on. It was a part of their youthfulness. Good genes helped, too, Don thought. Not to mention the financial wisdom of dear departed Redmond.
An hour later Don said goodnight. Feeling almost a member of the family, he went downstairs and fell asleep on the bed in the basement.
The next day he made his way to the park. "Mornin', Ruby."
"Morning to you. You late today."