"Quite good on a rainy afternoon," Arlen said.
"Yumm," Jacky said.
"Oliver, sarsaparilla for the lady."
"Right away. Does the lady like water with her sarsaparilla?"
"Half and half."
"Yes," Arlen said approvingly. Oliver prepared her drink and handed it to her.
"To your new family and your beautiful old house," she toasted.
"Jacky! How nice!" Jennifer swept in and gave Jacky one of those lengthy woman to woman hugs, timed to the microsecond to communicate eternal devotion, unceasing turf vigilance, equality before the Great Sister, and other messages beyond Oliver's understanding. Arlen exuded calm; the two women might have been cows rubbing shoulders. "Come and see Emma." Jennifer led Jacky into the house.
Arlen and Oliver resumed their positions in the doorway. "I don't want to intrude, Oliver, but wasn't she the one . . ."
"Yup," Oliver interrupted. "She was."