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see how things were going to play out. Bottom line, was I mature enough to be ready to give up some control over my son’s life?
    Out on the street, Pam was backing Willow down the ramp. A bushy white tail appeared, followed a moment later by a golden palomino rump. The pony was of medium size, her back standing level with Pam’s chest. Her white mane was just as thick as her tail, and a silvery forelock hung down over her dished face from between two tiny ears. Her eyes were big and brown, and she had a star on her forehead as well as high white stockings on both hind legs.
    Calmly the pony continued her descent until all four hooves were on the road. Immediately she was surrounded by excited children. I held my breath, afraid she might spook, but Willow merely flicked her ears at the attentive horde and began nosing pockets for treats.
    â€œOh my,” I breathed. “She’s adorable.”
    â€œIsn’t she? Davey’s going to love her.”
    Yes, he would, I realized sadly. For a few minutes, I’d been so distracted by the utopian vision Bob had created, not to mention the pony herself, that I’d forgotten all about practical matters.
    â€œUnfortunately that doesn’t change the fact that we don’t have any place to keep a pony. Nor do I have any idea how to take care of one.”
    â€œThat’s the great part,” said Bob. “You don’t have to do a thing. Pam just brought Willow over here today for fun. After Davey has a ride around the neighborhood, she’ll load her back up and take her back to the farm. Willow will stay there and Pam will take care of everything. A couple times a week, I’ll take Davey over for riding lessons.”
    â€œIt sounds as though you have this all worked out.”
    â€œI do,” Bob said earnestly. “Trust me.”
    Trust him? Now there was the rub. Trust wasn’t something I came by easily. A defense mechanism to be sure, but one that had served me well when I remembered to use it. Unfortunately, where men were concerned I hadn’t remembered nearly often enough.
    Ah well, I thought. Once more into the fray.
    â€œAll right—”
    â€œExcellent!”
    â€œJust one thing.”
    Bob’s celebration stopped mid-stride.
    â€œWhat was the something else you were going to tell me a minute ago?”
    â€œOh, that. It’s more good news, actually.”
    Pardon me for thinking I’d had about as much good news as I could stand for one day.
    â€œFrank and I are going into business together.”
    â€œYou . . . what ?”
    â€œI’m buying out his partner’s share of the Bean Counter. Now that I’ll be staying in Connecticut permanently, it seemed like a good idea to line up a job. With the coffee bar being such a success, Gloria had been talking to Frank about cashing in her share. She wants to retire to Florida and take her profits with her. Frank and I sat down last week and ran the numbers.”
    Of course he would do that, I thought. Bob was an accountant. Or at least he had been until he’d moved to Texas and taken a share in a wildcat drilling company in return for bookkeeping services. Who would ever have expected that his oil well would actually come in?
    â€œIt looks like a sound investment to me,” Bob was saying. “And Frank likes the idea of keeping the business in the family. Who knows, another year like this last one and we might even start looking to expand.”
    â€œExpand?” I said weakly.
    It was all a little much to take in. Not that long ago I’d despaired of my little brother ever finding a job he would stick with long enough for benefits to kick in, not to mention a woman he might see for more than two weeks in a row. Now suddenly Frank was not only married to a wonderful woman named Bertie, he was also, apparently, turning into something of an entrepreneur.
    â€œMelanie.” Rose tapped me on the shoulder. “Could