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the smile. She loved this place. Women who looked like Blanche seldom called women who looked like Katie sweetie. Usually it was something like “stuck-up bitch” murmured low enough to hear, but not loud enough to be able to comment on.
    But Blanche didn’t think she was a stuck-up bitch. No, Blanche called her sweetie. She even patted Katie’s head as she brought her the Margarita. “Pace yourself, sweetie,” she said. “I can tell you ain’t from Texas, and these here is Texas Margaritas. They pack a wallop.”
    Katie was touched at Blanche’s concern. In fact, the warm glow of the liquor made her realize that no one in her entire life had ever cared for her as much as Blanche The Bartender did. Blanche loved her. Just look at the lovely drink she’d brought all the way over to the table for Katie. If that wasn’t love, what was?
    Katie got out of her chair, not an easy task, swayed just a little, quickly tried to cover it, and launched herself into a startled Blanche’s arms for a huge hug.
    “Oh Blanche, thank you. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for understanding me. You know, I think you’re the most wonderful person. I want you to know that.” She pulled away, but still clung to Blanche’s arms. Blanche held Katie’s gaze as if Katie were imparting deep words of wisdom. Katie felt she was. “Blanche, I think I should move to Texas. Is everyone in Texas like you Blanche? So lovely? So understanding?” She looked at Lizzie and Chad, whose eyes had grown big with amusement. “Lizard, I’m moving to Texas.”
    Lizzie only nodded, but Katie was already turned back to Blanche. “I will notify you the minute I relocate to Texas, Blanche. You will be my first call.”
    Blanche smiled, disentangling herself from Katie, got her seated once again and then turned to Lizzie and Chad and asked, “Did y’all want another one?”
     
    At the other end of what could loosely be called a restaurant, Darío watched Katie hug the bartender and wondered if perhaps he had been mistaken and she was from around here after all. Then he saw her sway as she sat back down, her friend’s hand instinctively reaching out to offer support, which was not heeded, and he realized the scene was one of a grateful drinker to an amused bartender.
    He smiled. Katie Maki. Not Lipton. Maki.
    So, she had either recently gotten married or divorced. Judging from the vehemence in her voice, and the bare ring finger, he guessed divorced. And the bitterness that he’d detected also led him to believe that perhaps the divorce had not been a friendly one.
    Darío wondered what kind of fool would let a woman who looked like that walk out of his life? Her hand at his crotch now made more sense after seeing her sway as she stood to hug the bartender. Maybe she was a drinker? Was that the cause of her divorce?
    He didn’t think so. There was something almost…virgin… about her drunken movements, like it was a state she was not familiar with.
    “Aaah, so that’s why you dragged me out to this blasted shack, a bird?” Binky interrupted Darío ’s gaze and thoughts. “And the pretty bird who followed you all day, no less.” There was a teasing gist to his voice.
    Darío didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “She was not following me. She was following Chad Curtis.”
    Binky smirked. “Yeah, maybe, but do you think she could tell us what approach shot Chaddy boy shot at thirteen?” He looked around the room and shuddered. “I’ve been in my fair share of dives in my time, but I can’t say I’ve been in any worse than this one here. And you made me wear my church clothes to this place?”
    Darío shrugged and ordered a beer from the man who came from the bar to their table. “I did n’t know what it was like.”
    Binky slapped a hand down on the table. “Right. I knew you were telling tales when you said you’d been here before to Chaddy boy. This place is up my alley, all right, but not yours.”
    “I didn’ t say I’d