"I know," Johnny said. "Thank heavens my mate's at the lake. How about yours, Pete?"
"In Denver, visiting her mother."
Ted said evenly, "Henri's sitting at my house, boring my wife to death, right now. I don't worry about Henri."
Pete coughed. Johnny studied his hand intently. Neither of them said a word.
The game went on. Ted had too many wild cards, or not enough. Nothing worked. He fed Johnny and got garbage from Pete. He drank and simmered and watched their scores pile up.
At five-thirty, he rose and said, "I don't mind losing to you guys, but you can't expect me to support you." He wrote out two checks.
"Bad loser," Pete said, winking at Johnny.
Johnny said, "We'll have to get some golf in, Ted. Give me a ring, any time. I'm a free man, for two weeks."
Ted nodded, and left.
It was six when he got home. There was another note: