Hastings called his ex-wife after he left the station. Eileen told him she was home and Hastings asked if he could drop by.

He hugged his daughter when he arrived. She was browned by the trip to Jamaica. She brought him to the kitchen table and showed him pictures on her personal computer. It lifted his spirits. George Hastings was not a man given to self-pity. He felt, on balance, that his life had not been bad and though he was not a religious man, he had always been grateful for having such a great kid. There was an easy, abundant, unconditional love between him and Amy. Which as it should be between father and daughter. Yet it had not been something he had had as a child. Hastings had always believed he’d got the better part of the bargain.

After a while, he put his hand on her head. “I’m glad you had a good time, Amy.”

“I did, Daddy. You look tired.”

“I’m all right, sweetie. Just had a long day.”

He excused himself from her and went to Eileen. “I’d like to talk to you and Ted alone.”

Ted Samster had always been uncomfortable around Hastings. That he felt guilt for taking Eileen away from him was a given. But Hastings had never confronted him for the sin. Never even raised his voice to him. If he felt anger for what Ted had done, he had never shown it.

Now they were in Ted’s den with the door closed.

Hastings said, “I’ve been thinking about Amy’s school. Where she wants to go is up to her. I don’t want her going to any school because it would please you two or because it would, I don’t know, raise her status or something. -- No, let me finish, please. If Amy wants to go to Country Day, then I’ll go along with it on one condition. I pay for half the tuition.”

Eileen and Ted exchanged glances.

Ted said, “George, that isn’t necessary. We can handle —”

“I know you can handle it, Ted. I know. I can handle my half too. Eileen’s never asked for alimony or child support and…well, I can handle it.”

Ted said, “George —”

“Those are my conditions. Accept them or I’ll fight you on this. And I know how to do it.”

Ted looked at Eileen again. She looked at George then back at her husband. Eileen understood both of these men and loved them both too. She nodded to Ted.

“Okay?” Hastings said.

Ted said, “Okay, George.”

Ted extended his hand for some reason. Hastings thought, oh hell, and shook it. He turned to see his ex-wife. She had that familiar mirthful gleam in her eyes.

Hastings said, “Shut up.”