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whisper-yell at her aunt. “Are you insane? You don’t know this man! He could be an ax-murderer, for all you know. He certainly doesn’t seem exactly normal. Who do you know who just picks up and leaves his life to go hiking a random trail, showing up on people’s doorsteps looking as though he slept in his clothes for weeks?”
    Vivian continued rocking, looking at her niece with a depth of calmness that Lydia couldn’t fathom. “Sometimes you’ve just got to trust your instincts.” And a little inside information , she thought.
    “Trust your—” Lydia flopped back into her chair, her eyes round with astonishment. “Trust your instincts? Well, we both know I flunked that course in school. You’re the one who told me a long time ago to go ahead and judge a book by its cover! If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck—”
    “What are you saying?” Vivian interrupted. “You think he looks like a drug dealer?”
    “No, of course that’s not what I’m saying.” The man was filthy, but his physique spoke of a healthy lifestyle. “But something’s not right about him.”
    “We’ll see.”
    Frustrated, she turned to look out at the rain that now obscured the view of the lake. She couldn’t have been more blind-sided. The Aunt Vi she used to know would have told that handsome homeless stranger to hit the road. “You’ve changed,” she said aloud, speaking up to be heard over the pounding of the rain.
    “I’ve mellowed with age. I’m braver now.”
    She threw up her hands. “You used to be more cautious. I don’t think this is a good idea. You’re taking in strays right and left today. First me, then this stranger who—”
    As if on cue, a bedraggled collie appeared on the steps in front of them, tail between its legs, head down. It was sneaking peeks as if ashamed to have been caught out in the rain. A boom of thunder sent the dog galloping up the steps where it slid to a stop, trembling at Vivian’s feet.
    “Aw, poor fella.” She snatched up the blanket hanging from the back of the rocking chair and began to dry the dog’s wet fur, rubbing vigorously. “Where’d you come from, huh?” The dog squirmed happily under her ministrations. “Yeah, you like that, don’t you, boy! Good boy!”
    At that moment the screen door behind them opened and Mike came out, grinning. “Hey, there’s the dog!”
    Lydia’s jaw dropped at the transformation. He had changed into a clean pair of jeans and a faded blue chambray shirt. He was freshly shaved and had finger-combed his wet hair back from his face. She had thought him ruggedly handsome before, but now her heartbeat quickened and she suddenly felt the need to go brush her own hair and maybe put on a little makeup.
    No, no, no! What was she thinking? She had no judgment when it came to men, and she was done with that chapter in her life. Love had never worked out for her. No matter how strong the attraction, she knew better than to trust herself to choose a good man. As far as she was concerned, there weren’t any good men out there. End of story. Feeling flustered, she asked, “Is that your dog?”
    “Not really. He joined me about a week ago, and he comes and goes as he pleases.”
    She patted the side of her leg, clicked her tongue, and the dog accepted her invitation after a good shake of wet fur. He put his paws on her knees, quivering with excitement as she ran her hands through his damp fur. “Phew, you stink,” she said, laughing. “Down, boy!” The dog obediently walked to the end of the porch, circled a few times and settled down, making himself at home. He rested his head on his paws and looked serenely out toward the lake.
    Mike laughed along with her while she waved her hand in front of her face at the offensive smell. I was right , he thought as he watched her. Her eyes are green; the kind you could drown in.

Chapter 3
    Chicken sizzled in the skillet and biscuits browned in the oven. Vivian was amazed she even remembered how