Our Souls at Night

32

A few nights later Addie and Louis and Jamie went out to the Wagon Wheel restaurant on the highway east of town and sat at one of the tables near the big windows. There was a view of the wheatland out to the south. The sun was going down and the stubble was beautiful in the lowering lightem; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em; text-align: ooun nt. After they ordered their dinner an old man walked over and sat down heavily in the vacant chair. A big solid-looking man in a long-sleeved shirt and new jeans, his face very red and wide.

Louis said, You know Addie Moore, don’t you, Stanley?

Not as good as I’d like to.

Addie, this is the famous Stanley Thompkins.

I ain’t too famous. More like infamous.

And this is Addie’s grandson Jamie Moore.

Let me see your grip, son.

The boy reached out and shook the old man’s thick hand and the old man winced and Jamie stared at him.

I heard you two was seeing each other, Stanley said.

Addie’s willing to put up with me, Louis said.