At almost exactly the same time, Sharon and Dawn looked up. Sharon put her fork down, too. Dawn stopped in mid-macaroni bite.

"Richard?" said Sharon. "What is it?"

My father cleared his throat again. "Yes. Well. I have some good news. Someoutstanding news. Some excellent news."

"Richard!"

"Our law firm is merging with another firm — "

Sharon immediately looked relieved. "Oh, yes. I remember you'd talked about that being in the works."

"Yes. It's all set. It's a great opportunity for

us." My father was using his "lawyer" tone of voice now. I had to smile.

"Congratulations, Dad," I said.

"Super, Richard," said Dawn.

"Thank you, both of you." My father looked pleased. "I'll be traveling more, at least at first." He cleared his throat for a third time. "Beginning with a two-week trip to Cincinnati in July."

"Two weeks!" Sharon smiled at Dad. "Sounds important."

"It is," Dad said.

Sharon looked at Dawn and me. "Well, we can bach it," she said. She pronounced it "batch."

Dawn and I gave her puzzled looks, but my dad let out a shout of laughter. "I haven't heard that term in a long, long time," he said. "I think my grandfather used it."

" 'Bach' it?" asked Dawn.

"Make like bachelors. Be bachelor girls," explained Sharon.

It sounded pretty old-fashioned to me.

"Cool," Dawn said. "We'll order take-out foodevery night and stay up late and..."

I was beginning to get the picture. "And have wild parties!" I added.

Dad and Sharon looked at each other. I could see them making all kinds of "eye conversation," if you know what I mean.

"Sounds good to me," Dad said at last. He looked down at his plate as if he'd just discovered it was there. "Dinner!" he said. "I'm hungry!"