Laura closed her eyes to avoid Stan’s customary smirk. Not now, she told herself. Not tonight. For one night, pretend he is David’s brother and not some maggot. ‘Thank you, Stan. This is my friend Serita.’

Stan turned his attention toward Serita. ‘Another lovely creature,’ he said, taking her hand and kissing it. ‘Sitting with three such ravishing beauties – I will surely be the envy of every man in the arena.’

Serita choked back a laugh. She and Laura exchanged kisses with Gloria and then took their seats. Serita leaned over and whispered, ‘Is he for real?’

Laura shrugged.

Stan hopped out of his seat and into the aisle. ‘I’m going to grab some popcorn. Would you ladies care for anything?’

‘No thank you,’ Laura said flatly.

‘Nothing for me,’ Gloria added.

Serita said, ‘Can you get me a soda?’

‘Sure,’ Stan replied. ‘What kind?’

‘Diet Coke.’

‘Diet?’ Stan repeated, his smile on automatic. ‘Why would someone with your figure need diet?’

Serita rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and held back a chuckle. She waited until Stan had headed out of ear-shot before leaning toward Laura. ‘Another good line,’ she said in a whisper dripping with sarcasm.

Laura shushed her and turned toward her sister. ‘How are you, Gloria?’

‘I’m doing great,’ Gloria said. ‘How was your trip?’

‘Productive, I guess. Where are Mom and Dad?’

‘They were going to pick up Aunt Judy at the Sheraton, ’ Gloria answered. ‘They should be here any minute.’

‘Good.’

‘Laura,’ Gloria continued, ‘I want to ask you a favor.’

Laura’s eyes met her sister’s, knowing what Gloria was going to say and wondering what she should say in return. ‘Name it.’

‘It’s about Stan.’

‘What about him?’

‘I know you two have your trouble,’ she began. ‘I don’t know what it’s all about, but I love him, Laura, really love him. Can’t you give him another chance? For me? Please?’

Laura took a deep breath, a maneuver she used frequently to stall for a little extra time. It worked. When she finally opened her mouth, her reply was interrupted by the arrival of her parents and her aunt. Laura, Gloria and Serita greeted James, Mary and Judy. Everyone busily exchanged embraces and kisses. Laura hugged each one of them tightly, holding on for a few extra moments as though she were gaining strength from each embrace. It felt nice.

James returned her hug with surprising vigor. ‘How’s my little girl?’

‘I’m fine, Daddy,’ Laura said.

‘Bullshit,’ he whispered.

Laura managed a small laugh. ‘I miss him so much,’ she whispered back.

‘I know, honey,’ he said. ‘I know.’

They managed to release one another. Laura looked at her father. David’s death had aged him too. James Ayars’s face was a bit more worn; a few new worry lines had been etched into it. As always, he was dressed immaculately. His suit was covered with a Burberry trenchcoat, matching scarf, matching hat, matching gloves.

Mary was taking off her heavy overcoat. Laura noticed that her mother still trembled fiercely. The combination of sleepless nights and a few too many wines with dinner had continued to change Mary’s rosy complexion into a pasty one.

‘Where’s your new young man?’ James asked Gloria.

Gloria beamed. ‘He’ll be here in a minute. He just went to get some popcorn.’

Dr Ayars smiled encouragingly at his oldest daughter. ‘We’re all looking forward to meeting him.’

‘I just know you’re going to like him,’ Gloria added.

‘I’m sure we will,’ he replied gently.

Laura eyed her mother with concern. Despite the Garden heat, Mary’s body trembled like she had been left out in the frigid cold. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked her mother.

Mary tried to force on a smile but it never made it to her eyes. ‘Just a little cold. Nothing to worry about.’

For a moment, no one spoke. They all just glanced around the Garden, glanced at the parquet floor, glanced at one another.

‘There he is!’ Gloria cried.

Laura looked behind them. Stan moved briskly down the stairs. He smiled at Gloria as if he only had eyes for her. What a slug, Laura thought, but she had to admit to herself that his lovesick puppy act was good. Very good.

Heads swirled in the general direction of Stan as he continued his trip down the aisle. He was practically skipping, joy in his every step. He bounced down to their row and greeted Gloria with a quick kiss on the cheek. Gloria blushed and grabbed his hand.

‘Mom, Dad, Aunt Judy,’ she began, ‘I’d like you to meet Stan Baskin.’

Stan turned toward them, stuck out his hand and froze. His smile disappeared. The color in his face ebbed away. His mouth dropped open.

Mary and Judy stared back at him with looks that mirrored his own. Only James ignored Stan’s expression. Dr Ayars stood and took the outstretched hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Stan,’ he said.

Like a boxer who uses the standing eight count to get his bearings back, Stan began to recover. His smile returned, though not to its original potency. He shook James’s hand. ‘Pleasure to meet you, sir.’ He then greeted Judy and Mary cordially, not meeting their eyes and they not meeting his. Finally, he sat down.

‘What the hell was that all about?’ Serita whispered to Laura.

‘Beats me,’ Laura replied. ‘Weird, huh?’

‘At the very least.’

Laura watched her mother visibly sag and now even Aunt Judy looked worn. What the hell was going on? An uncomfortable silence hung over them. The seat on Laura’s left was left open for T.C., who had told her he was going to be a little late. Laura wished he were here. She’d like to know what he would have made of Stan’s introduction to her family.

An uncomfortable silence circled around them until Laura turned toward Judy. ‘Tell us about Colin,’ she said.

Judy seemed relieved at the break in tension. ‘He’s a geology professor at Colgate. Head of the department.’

‘And?’ Serita encouraged.

Judy smiled. ‘And he’s terrific.’

‘That’s wonderful,’ Gloria enthused.

‘Yeah, well, enough about me,’ Judy said. ‘I hear the Celtics got a great prospect in this Seidman kid.’

Mary Ayars tried her best to pretend everything was normal, that everything was just fine. ‘You’re not still a basketball nut, are you, Judy?’

‘Are you kidding?’ Judy answered, also trying like hell to keep the mood upbeat. Between David’s memorial and Stan’s reaction to seeing them… ‘I got tickets to the Final Four already and I put in MSG so I’ll be able to see all the Knicks games this year.’

Mary looked puzzled. ‘What is a Knick? And what on earth is an MSG?’ she asked.

Judy chuckled. ‘Forget it.’

Their conversation came to a halt when the loudspeaker blared, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the 1989-90 Boston Celtics!’

A sudden roar blared out from all points, consuming the arena in waves of sound. Twelve men with green warm-ups jogged onto the court and the roar became impossibly louder. For a split second Laura looked for David on the familiar parquet floor. When she realized that he was not there, that he would never again be there, the familiar pain ripped into her heart.

The players circled the floor a few times and then some began to stretch out while others grabbed basketballs from the rack and took some shots. Laura spotted Earl standing under the basket. He half waved in their direction. Serita returned the wave by blowing him a kiss and winking suggestively. Laura scanned the other familiar faces. David’s teammates all caught her eye and smiled warmly, sadly. Timmy Daniels, Johnny Dennison, Mac Kevlin, Robert Frederickson… all except one.

Number thirty.

Number thirty was the only face Laura did not recognize. He was about six-five with curly, blonde hair. His body was well-toned and defined – a nearly perfect physique. She watched as he took lay-ups in a relaxed manner, flipping the ball casually onto the backboard without really looking, knowing it would hit on the precise angle and go in. Laura realized that this had to be the rookie Earl and Serita had talked about last week. What was his name again? Aunt Judy had just mentioned it. Seidman. Mark Seidman. The man from nowhere.