Free When the Sun Goes Down by Gwynne Forster

year.”
    “Simple. It’s cheaper.”
    “Any news from Carson?”
    He hadn’t known that she called the man by his first name. Interesting. “Why ... no. When he finds the will, Edgar will no doubt be the first to know. You didn’t tell me what you thought of Montgomery.”
    “When I was with him, his search of Father’s quarters was practically microscopic. He is a thorough man.”
    And you’re deliberately misunderstanding me. “I’ve gathered that much from his questions and the things he’s said to me. I mean, as a man, what do you think?”
    “Well ...” She paused as if giving herself time to frame her thoughts. “He’s certainly a gentleman, and at the least, he’s a no-nonsense man.”
    “Hmm. You’re getting to be a real politician. I suppose dealing with all kinds of people daily would lead to that.”
    He put her bags in the trunk of his silver-gray Mercedes, got in, locked the car doors, and headed home. He’d like to know if she planned to see Montgomery but decided that it wasn’t prudent to ask. If she wanted him to know, she’d tell him.
    Mirna opened the door for them and beamed when she saw Shirley. “Mr. G didn’t tell me you were coming today,” she said, locked her knuckles to her hips, and looked at him with one eye narrowed. “You know if you’d a told me, I’d a had something real good for dinner tonight.”
    He patted Mirna’s shoulder. “Everything you cook is good. If I bring a guest home unexpectedly you’d only have to add a place setting, and we’d have a great meal.”
    Mirna fixed her gaze on the floor. “Thank you, sir. I try my best to make it like home for you. You love to eat, and I do love to cook. I’m glad you’re satisfied. We’ll have a nice meal tomorrow evening,” Mirna said.
    He waited for Shirley to explain her troubled look. “I won’t be in tomorrow evening, Mirna, but thanks for the thought.”
    He followed Shirley upstairs and set her bag in her room. “Who are you seeing tomorrow evening?”
    She didn’t look at him. “Carson invited me to ‘a pleasant evening.’ I don’t know what it will consist of.”
    “Is something shaping up between you two?”
    “I don’t know. He hasn’t said or done anything to suggest it.”
    “I don’t believe that. You didn’t ask him out, did you?”
    “Of course not,” she said, bristling.
    “Then pay attention. If you’re attracted to him, it’s more than likely mutual.”
    She walked past him without looking at him. “Thanks for the reassurance. I think I’ll rest for a few minutes. I’ve been up since five this morning.”
    He remembered that he’d left his briefcase and laptop in the trunk of his car and went down to get them. “You’re off this afternoon,” he told Mirna. “Shirley or I will cook, or we’ll eat out.”
    “Thank you, sir, but I already cooked your dinner. Just heat up those roasted Cornish hens in the oven. They’re stuffed with brown rice. There’s a salad in the refrigerator and you can warm up the string beans.”
    “Wonderful.” He put his hand in his pocket, pulled out his billfold, and gave her twenty-five dollars. “Treat yourself and a friend to a movie.”
    “Oh, dear! Thank you so much. I sure do appreciate this, and I’m gonna spend it on a movie, too.” She dashed to the telephone and dialed a number. “Frieda. Girl, Mr. G just gave me money to see a movie with a friend. I’ll be off in about an hour. Wanna see Harry Potter ?”
    “Okay. We can make the five-thirty, and I’ll have time to go home, fix us a picnic supper, and be at the movie at five-twenty or so. We can have the picnic in Banneker Park. If you go straight from work, you’ll find a parking spot not far from the theater. Okay? See you at the movie.”
    She turned, looked at Gunther, and smiled. “I sure do thank you. My girlfriend is always doing nice things for people, and I feel good that I can take her to a movie. The Lord gon’ bless you, Mr. G.”
    “Thanks, Mirna.