Gretchen Sarah Ider raised soft eyes to catch the wide ones of Stanislaus Anthony Imerese. Purposefully, she trotted from the open garage toward the ancient driver with Stan starting a slow ten paces behind.

A large boney palm with ring weighted fingers beckoned her to hurry. They coiled and unfurled imperiously, protruding from a watchband of gold glowing brighter than the gauzy morning sunlight. The owner caught Stan gazing at blueblack numbers starkly visible beneath their arm’s hair, heavy straight and dark. A quick eyebrow arch, more amused than challenging, jerked Stan Imerese to shift quickly back and away.