Free Fit to Die by J. B. Stanley Page A

He then gesticulated at Donovan, indicating that the deputy should chauffeur Willy back to his car. Before sliding into the patrol car, Willy looked up at his new friends and gave them a small wave accompanied by the best smile he could muster. They all waved back, but none could force smiles to their own lips.
    “It’s getting late.” Gillian glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a toy poodle coming in at eight tomorrow for the works.” She sighed. “I wish there was something we could do for that poor man.”
    “Yeah, poor Willy.” Lucy gazed at their new friend as he faced forward inside the sheriff’s patrol car. “What’s he going to do now?”
    “Lord only knows,” Bennett sighed. “He’ll have to find somethin’ to do to keep him on his feet until his place is rebuilt. Come on, men. Mondays are always busy at the post office. The mail never sleeps, so we’d better.”
    Lindy gave everyone a quick hug as she and Gillian turned to leave. “I wish our last night out before the diet starts had been more uplifting. We must tell Willy we’ll all help him in any way we can. See y’all at tomorrow’s Witness to Fitness meeting. At least we get to see Ronnie. She’s so sweet! She’s sure to cheer us all up!”
    “Yeah, see you then,” James mumbled miserably. He didn’t think he could stomach Ronnie’s chipper demeanor after such a sobering evening. He watched as the rising smoke began to dissipate and mingle with a group of silvery clouds high above them. Stars winked in and out of the gray veil as if too shy to allow themselves to be seen.
    Life can change so quickly, James thought, reflecting on his own life and Willy’s recent tragedy. He thought of Pete and what his dreams must have been when he was a young man. No one planned on being a drunken janitor, so what had happened? Did he fail to pursue a higher education? Was he afraid to take risks and therefore ended up living from bottle to bottle as he searched for just enough part-time work to keep the wolves at bay?
    James turned to watch Lucy’s form recede toward the other end of the parking lot. Suddenly, he was overtaken with the desire to connect with her.
    He glanced over at Bennett who was unlocking the door to his truck. “You coming James?” he called as he hopped in.
    “No. Go on without me,” James answered and then clumsily jogged in Lucy’s direction. “Lucy!” he shouted. She stopped and pivoted, her face a mixture of alarm and curiosity.
    James panted as he caught up to her. “God, I hate running.” He put a hand over his aching lungs. “Man’s body just isn’t designed for that kind of exercise. Listen. Could I … ?”
    Lucy looked at him with a small measure of impatience. “It’s pretty late, James.”
    “I know, I know.” James inhaled a gulp of foggy air. “Could you give me a lift back to my car?”
    “Of course.” She nodded and James was grateful she hadn’t asked why he wasn’t riding back with Bennett and Carter. The inside of her car still doubled as a trash receptacle. James remembered that the last time he had ridden in it, the passenger seat had been entirely covered by used napkins, clothing catalogues, old newspapers, gum wrappers, and paper bags. Lucy swept the debris into the back seat as James sat down, nudging aside a few soda cans as they rolled around his feet.
    They pulled onto the main road and James knew that he only had a few, precious minutes with Lucy, as it wouldn’t take long to reach the library lot. To James, it seemed as though he had parked the Bronco on a completely different night. He shared this thought with Lucy.
    “You just never know what’s around the bend,” she agreed, shaking her head.
    James gathered up his courage and spoke what was on his mind. “Lucy, I just wanted to ask you … I … um … if you would have coffee with me after work on Tuesday.”
    Lucy’s face lightened up. “Of course I would. Any particular reason?”
    James felt encouraged by her