“They told me I was washing the diapers with too much bleach and that’s why the baby’s been cranky,” Ricky said. “Do you think that could be true?”

He had so wearied of her it was like an ache in his bones.

“I’ve found a good sitter,” she said. “It took me forever to find a really responsible one. Why don’t I come along to the service for your father?”

“Why would you want to do that?”

“We never do anything important together. I hardly ever see you. Afterwards we could go out, couldn’t we?”

“We’ll have another drink and go out tonight. We’ll go to that seafood place.”

It was late afternoon and the sun was falling with haste toward the earth.

“Gramma said that when dusk falls it reminds God of the hearts of men. That’s the only time he thinks of us, at dusk.”

“Your grandmother was an amazing woman,” Cliff said.

She looked at him uncertainly.

They would quarrel later. He was relieved it was finally over.