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           Hisfacepuckered,andthenhefinallychuckled."You’replayingbaseball?"

           "Well,I’llprobablywatchmostofthetime."

           "Youmustreallylikethisguy,"heobservedsuspiciously.

           Isighedandrolledmyeyesforhisbenefit.

           Iheardtheroarofanenginepullupinfrontofthehouse.Ijumpedupandstartedcleaningmydishes.

           "Leavethedishes,Icandothemtonight.Youbabymetoomuch."

           Thedoorbellrang,andCharliestalkedofftoanswerit.Iwashalfastepbehindhim.

           Ihadn’trealizedhowharditwaspouringoutside.Edwardstoodinthehalooftheporchlight,lookinglikeamalemodelinanadvertisementforraincoats.

           "Comeonin,Edward."

           IbreathedasighofreliefwhenCharliegothisnameright.

           "Thanks,ChiefSwan,"Edwardsaidinarespectfulvoice.

           "GoaheadandcallmeCharlie.Here,I’lltakeyourjacket."

           "Thanks,sir."

           "Haveaseatthere,Edward."

           Igrimaced.

           Edwardsatdownfluidlyintheonlychair,forcingmetositnexttoChiefSwanonthesofa.Iquicklyshothimadirtylook.HewinkedbehindCharlie’sback.

           "SoIhearyou’regettingmygirltowatchbaseball."OnlyinWashingtonwouldthefactthatitwasrainingbucketshavenobearingatallontheplayingofoutdoorsports.

           "Yes,sir,that’stheplan."Hedidn’tlooksurprisedthatI’dtoldmyfatherthetruth.Hemighthavebeenlistening,though.

           "Well,morepowertoyou,Iguess."

           Charlielaughed,andEdwardjoinedin.

           "Okay."Istoodup."Enoughhumoratmyexpense.Let’sgo."Iwalkedbacktothehallandpulledonmyjacket.Theyfollowed.

           "Nottoolate,Bell."