Sunday at The Palace

It was the usual scenario: I was skyping on Sunday afternoon when the calls started coming in. At each ring of the cell; it is always the same: "Where ARE you?" And even though I had announced my intention to stay home, I know the routine. Fortunately, a smart afternoon outfit of a crisp white shirt paired with daring plaid pants had been laid out in advance of this.

As I approached the patio it was heartening to see Ben and Jeremy dining and drinking together (each of their food tasters had already died of natural, if sudden, causes). Still, they seemed to be enjoying the superb weather, the enormous crowd, and--of course--my arrival.