“Come outside and see the setup.”

We went out onto the back patio, where the cool late-September air smelled of wet grass and woodsmoke.

A big eight-seat outdoor table with a black tempered glass top took up the whole middle of the brick patio.

Greasy paper barbecue plates, empty soda cans, and wadded-up napkins were scattered across it.

“Vance got a great deal on the whole set,” Richard said, resting his hand on the back of a tall aluminum patio chair.

“It dresses up the whole back lawn.”