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threatening me. He said he was going to shoot himself if I left him. He was not rational, but I didn’t think he was serious. Stupidly I grabbed for the gun, and we wrestled for it before it went off.”
    Max’s face hardened. “Were you hurt?”
    “No.” She took a breath. “Actually, I shot him.”
    “You shot your ex-husband?”
    “Well, I winged him.” Jill touched the side of her forehead. “The bullet glanced off his skull about here. I don’t think he even had to get stitches.”
    “Holy Mother.”
    “I know, right? Aren’t you glad you asked? I bet you are asking yourself about your choice in women back then.”
    Max shook his head. “No, I’m not doing that. But I’m glad to be warned you’re not a girl to mess around with.”
    Something about the way Max said ‘mess around with’ in his soft Swedish accent struck her as hilarious.
    Jill put her hand over her mouth but could not stifle her laughter, which rumbled out of her for several seconds. “Oh my god, Max, now you’re going to think I’m a nut case, laughing over shooting someone. It’s not funny, I know. It wasn’t funny at all at the time. It feels unreal telling you about it.”
    “I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I’m sorry I brought up something so painful. I seem to excel at that.”
    She squeezed his hand. “It’s good you did. Imagine if someone else at the reunion mentioned that sordid tale. You’d think I was a psycho.” She shook her head and the three Kirs she had at dinner sloshed around in her stomach. “I don’t feel very well. I think I’m drunk.”
    “Poor girl.” He patted her knee. “Come on, we’ll get you inside.”
    She held up her hand. “Give me a minute, okay?”
    “Sure.” He sat back. “Did you say your ex-husband, this Andrew, went to jail?”
    “Yes. That night he was charged with a couple of felonies, but his family had money for a big-time lawyer, and I think after a short time in prison he got sent to rehab. I divorced him, and that was that.”
    “And you never married again?”
    “No.” She blinked, uncomfortable that she felt she had to make it clear she wasn’t a desperate spinster, or something. “I don’t talk much about this, but I’m glad you heard it from me. I’m sure you’ll probably hear other references to it at the parties.”
    “Why would anyone bring that up?”
    “Because Andrew is going to be there.”
    “You ex-husband is coming to the reunion?”
    Jill pictured him standing on her front porch two days ago. “That’s what I hear.”
    Max sat mulling this information in the darkness. A car drove slowly down the street and circled, the headlights illuminating him in profile. “You mentioned I never met Hamilton. But did I know Andrew? Were he and I friends?”
    “Yes, you knew him. No, you weren’t friends.”
    “Why?”
    “You thought he was a skit huvud , which you told me means asshole, if I remember correctly. That’s a direct quote.”
    “It appears I was a good judge of character.”
    They shared a chuckle. Several moments passed. “Are you feeling well enough to go inside now?” he asked.
    “Yes.” She wanted suddenly to tell him about Andrew’s warning about the reunion, but bit her tongue. She was a mess of opposing impulses, she thought, and it would be best if she called it a night.
    “When would you like to get together again, Max? I’m going to be busy Tuesday, taking my mom to the doctor, and Carly and Ham are coming in Thursday.”
    “Can I take you to lunch tomorrow?” Max asked. “I thought maybe we could drive over to St. John’s and see Dr. Millard.”
    “Sure. Going to the college is a great idea. What time?”
    “Let’s shoot for noon.” He grinned. “No pun intended.”
    She smacked his arm. “That was a cheap shot. But okay, I’ll see you then.” She stepped out of this car unsteadily.
    Max came around the side of the car and shut the door.
    She put her hand on his arm. “You don’t have to walk me to