Chapter 9

“In the dark, we’re the same age. Just two people. I’m simply Arthur. He’s simply Chad. We can talk for hours. Chad went to a good college, Princeton, in fact. He’s bright, sensitive. We enjoy each other’s company. So, yes, like you said, love.”

“But the lights have to come on sometime,” I said, hoping that the truth would set me free—though not free of a paycheck.

“Love is blind.” He said it, but he didn’t seem to believe it. Or at least his frown said as much. Plus, was Chad really blind? Or was it a case of temporary blindness, like when you see a sudden flash of light. Or a sudden flash of do-re-mi dough. Call me a cynic but come on. After all, Jack Tripper never slept with Mr. Roper. Then again, he never slept with Janet or Chrissy, either, so maybe the analogy didn’t hold water, choppy or otherwise.