"Well, that was a disaster," Arnie sighed as lightning flashed outside the bedroom window. It was pouring, a warm August deluge. He could hear water rushing down the rain gutters he and Raymond repaired just a month or so earlier.

Rita stirred a little as she lay with her head on his chest, and said, "It was not a disaster, Arnie. Billy had a great time. Did you see how happy that boy was? And all those presents! Oh, if ever a child needed to be spoiled a little!"

"The party was fine. You know what I'm talking about. Your sister sent your matchmaking straight to hell. Your luck with those two isn't any better now than it was before."

Rita raised her head and gave Arnie a quick kiss.

"I know what I'm doing, Arnie. This was just a setback. They'd have been married long ago if they both weren't so pigheaded. And I'm a great matchmaker. Bill and Renee: happily married five years now. Tom and Elizabeth: three years and three kids. Steve and Lori…"

"Max and Louise," Arnie interrupted.

She laid her head back down on his chest and sighed.

"Arnie, no one knew Max was gay."

"Well, now we all do, and Max fled to New York City. It's what you don't know that takes a big chunk out of your backside, Rita."

She drummed her fingers across his chest, looked up again and said, "You didn't see them in the kitchen. There's still fire there, Arnie. I'm just laying wood on it."

"Perhaps," Arnie said. "But maybe you're juggling grenades. Maybe today was more than a little setback."

Rita leaned in and kissed him again, and he could see a smile creasing her face.

"It's nearly midnight and you're truck isn't back," she said softly. "She must be making one hell of an apology."

She laid her head back on his chest and said: "Why was Raymond so upset, anyway?"

"He had the money for the Game Boy. He squirreled it away little by little for months. The money went into fixing the washer. Sarah Jean embarrassed him, even though she didn't mean to. Raymond's been beaten down, Rita, beaten down hard, but he's still a proud man."

"Maybe he's too proud."

"Perhaps," Arnie said softly. "But pride and his boy are all he has left."