Noreen Delany was trying to decide whether or not she was
in love with Mr. McKenry. Not Mr. McKenry
Sr. -- though they had had some friendly interaction,
quote unquote, back there before his prostate trouble cut in on
his social life, quote unquote, which had been considerable ever
since his wife died, what, thirty odd years ago. No, it was Mr. McKenry, Jr. she was thinking about.
Even though he wore those awful suits and forgot to comb
his hair sometimes and even though sometimes he seemed like he
was a million miles away, no, there was just something about him.
First off, he was a brilliant man. Just like his daddy. Everybody knew that.
They were the two smartest men in town. They knew poetry,
they read books. Plus they were good businessmen. Mr. McKenry
Sr. had made a lot of money for the bank, and owned property all
over town to boot. And then Mr. McKenry Jr. had put money Spring Lake Plantation, that development out
on Columbia Road. And look how that had turned out -- all
the high pocket folks coming out from Columbia laying down big
city prices down on houses Mr. McKenry had built for small town
money.
Smart, smart, smart.
Noreen had always had a weakness for a smart man.
It had been putting her in a bad mood lately, this whole
problem. She'd had trouble concentrating on things, too.
Especially in church. She'd been having certain feelings.
