Bonnie answered the doorbell and recognized the man she had spoken to on the phone the day before. “Mike!” She smiled wide, and the two of them embraced.

"My word! You don't look a day older than I remember!" she said, holding him at arm's length. She was exaggerating.

"You've gotten even sexier," he commented, and he was not exaggerating. Bonnie blushed, and stepped aside to allow her guest inside.

"Sorry for the mess," she said, bending over to pick up a clean diaper that had found its way into the middle of the living room and pushing a toy truck aside with her foot. "I just got Kim down for a nap."

"I never thought you were the mothering type," Mike said, slipping out of his leather coat. The woman took it from him and hung it on a nearby rack. "Last I checked you couldn't even keep a houseplant alive."

The woman laughed. "I wasn't much for responsibility, that's for sure," she agreed. "Heck, sometimes I'm surprised I even managed to keep myself alive this long." She looked out the window for a moment, and then smiled. "Would you like something to drink?" She led him into the kitchen and brought out two bottles of beer, and they sat at the dining table, which was still covered in crumbs from breakfast.

"Sorry again, for the mess," she said, but Mike shook his head.

"It's no problem. You know how I live.”

“Well, I know how you lived fifteen years ago,” she said. “What’s been going on in your life? What have you been doing with yourself?” she asked

“I’m afraid I haven’t settled down quite as much as you.” He took a sip. “I’ve been in a couple of bands, nothing really successful. But right now I’m doing sound tech for a group that’s doing pretty good.” He reached into his pocket and brought out a hand-labeled cassette tape. “You really should give ‘em a listen; they remind me of the music we used to make.”

“Really?” Bonnie leaned forward and took the cassette, looking interested. “Hang on, I’ll put it in.” She went around the corner and loaded the cassette into the stereo, which was hooked up to speakers in the kitchen, and in a moment the music was playing. She came returned to the table smiling broadly. “I like it already!” she said. “Who’s that vocalist? She sounds really…” she trailed off, at a loss for words.

“Her name’s Monica,” Mike said. “You’d like her. She’s really something when you talk to her.”

“Maybe you could introduce me sometime,” Bonnie said quietly, lost in the music.

“I hope to,” he said. “In fact, there’s gonna be a show tonight at Bella Dubby. You can get in for free.”

“Really?” She smiled, and then frowned. “I’d have to ask my husband. He doesn’t always go for this kind of music.”

The man nodded slowly. “What’s he like?” he asked.

“He’s, well, what can I say? He’s a good man. Hopeless in a philosophical conversation,” she laughed, “but he knows what’s what.”

“So what does he do?”

“He builds houses,” she laughed again. “Very blue-collar. Not like anyone I used to go for.”

“Heh. A house-builder and a homemaker,” the man said, and she frowned. The man looked at her for a moment, and then asked, bluntly, “Do you love him?”

“Yes.”

Mike looked her in the eye for a moment, and then nodded. “Well, I guess there’s no hope of luring you away, huh?” He smirked.

She laughed then. “Not a chance,” she said. They sat together for a moment, listening to the music, and then the woman suddenly looked around. “I hear Kim waking up,” she said, and sure enough, a moment later the toddler was standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes and blinking at the strange man at the dining table. Bonnie stood up and scooped the child into her arms, kissing her on the cheek.

“Hey hon,” she said. “Have a good sleep?” The child laid her head sleepily on her mother’s shoulder, looking solidly at Mike. “Kim, this is my friend Mike. Do you want to say hi?” Kim shook her head, and Bonnie laughed. “Still too sleepy, huh?”

“Well,” Mike said, standing up and putting his bottle down on the table, “I should be going. Give me a call if you can come to the show tonight,” he said.

“I will,” Bonnie said. “Are you sure you can’t stay longer? We’ll be going to pick up Kyle from school soon, and you could meet him too.”

“Nah, I’ve got to be going. We’ll be setting up.” Mike was putting his coat on.

“Okay. I hope I see you tonight, then,” Bonnie said. “Thanks for the tape.” She walked with him to the door, the toddler still in her arms, and watched from the doorway as he walked down to the street and got in his car.