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pointers?”
    The way his son rolled his eyes caught Devon’s attention. “It’s like in the olden days when guys courted, I think that’s the word, girls, you know, so they’d impress them. Dad, you gotta do that to mom. Geez, don’t you know anything about women?”
    “Apparently not.” Skimming the long list he registered the first three items: candy, perfume, flowers. “Yeah, she always loved flowers. Even talked about having a greenhouse someday.” His mind whirled with the thought. “We could build her one.”
    “Really? You’d do that for her? And let me help?”
    Gazing at his son’s awed expression, Devon smiled. “It’s a deal.”
    “Cool.”
    Going back to the list, he halted abruptly at the fourth item. “Romance?”
    “Yeah, she may not say it, but she really likes that one.” He leaned closer as if confiding a secret, saying, “You pick up these things when you live with a woman.”
    Devon had all he could do not to laugh out loud at his son. “You sure you’re not really an adult masquerading as a kid?”
    “Come on, Dad, get serious, will ya? This is important stuff to learn.”
    “And why am I learning this again?”
    Sean shook his head as if he was speaking to a foreigner who didn’t understand a thing. “So we can be a happy family. For mom all you gotta do is make her happy. See, guys like simple things. You know, a place to sleep, junk food, a cool car, and a girl. Women are more complicated.”
    Stunned wonder swept over Devon. “Are you sure you’re only eleven?”
     
    ***
     
    At five minutes to the hour, Devon stood rooted to his designated spot at the makeshift altar in the freshly painted, formal living room of his home. In the semi-filled flower bedecked space a half dozen guests sat expectantly. His gaze skimmed over Gil, and then Jewel’s two beauty salon business partners and their families who he had met when they arrived earlier.
    By his side, Sean elbowed him. “Did I remember to put bubble baths on the list?”
    Grinning, Devon nodded.
    “Phew! I thought I missed that one.”
    A fluff of gray raced by his peripheral vision. “Hey, I thought you put the cat out.”
    “Geez, I did. He must have found a way back in again.”
    A man clearing his throat behind Devon had him twisting sharply. He relaxed when he spotted the balding, heavyset minister. Holding out his hand, he said, “Reverend Duffy, I’m glad you could do this for us.”
    The round face beamed as he shook Devon’s hand. “Well, son, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Waving an arm to encompass the property, he said, “This is a lot different than the first time I performed the ceremony for you and your bride, isn’t it?”
    You mean I’m a lot different, don’t you? I was poor then . “Things have changed.”
    “For the better, I see. Well, I think we’re ready to begin, if you are.” He turned to his rosy-cheeked wife at the organ. “All right, dear.”
    Let the show begin .
    Strains of the wedding march floated to him. Getting in position, with Sean beside him, Devon gazed at the empty archway. Seconds ticked by and still no one came into sight. Some of the guests shifted uncomfortably. A few hushed whispers drifted his way.
    The tie around his neck seemed to tighten by degrees, choking off his air supply. The knot on his forehead throbbed to life, pulsing shafts of pain through his head. When she still didn’t show, a cold sheen of sweat bathed his body.
    What seemed to him like hours later, but, in fact, were mere minutes, Jewel appeared. His heart skipped a beat. Standing in the entranceway, in a creamy white suit that revealed her long, shapely legs and with her glossy, black hair piled on her head, she stole the breath from his lungs.
    She didn’t move. Devon frowned. Narrowing his eyes, he detected the slight tremor in her hands as she held the bouquet of flowers. Swiftly, he focused on her colorless complexion, and then her wide-eyed gaze. Pure terror resided