They bundled up in coats, hats and gloves, and walked two blocks in the snow to the nearest diner. They bustled inside as quickly as possible, rubbing their arms to get warm. With a hand on her shoulder, Harry guided Diane to a table in the back, and Margaret followed them with mugs of coffee.

�How ya doin�, Harry? Cold enough for ya?� Margaret chuckled. She never seemed to get tired of her little joke, even after repeating it for decades.

�Not quite frosty enough, Maggie. My lips are still soft and warm. Wanna try �em out?� Harry always remembered his lines, and they repeated their little scene each time he came in.

�Oh, you know very well I�m married!� Margaret still blushed every time, and showed off her 1/4-carat ring proudly.

�Well, if you ever get the urge to wander, you know where to find me, my dear,� Harry sighed, and winked at Diane.

A few sips later, they were warmed from the inside. Diane studied Harry�s face. He looked healthy and happy. She tried not to be angry, but his silence over the last two weeks had frustrated her.

�So, where the hell have you been?�

�I didn�t hear my phone ringing off the hook either. Or, have you now become, at this late juncture, a �Rules� girl?�

Harry sipped his coffee, his eyes boring into Diane�s. She was unable to speak. Something in his eyes frightened her, and she felt that if she moved, the hunter would pounce.

Harry realized she wasn�t in the mood for clever repartee, and he put his mug down. �I heard you had moved on.�

�What?� Diane squinted in disbelief.

�Sorenson warned me off, saying you two are an item now.�

�So you refused to call me again, just like that?�

�Lucky for him I�m not allowed to carry firearms right now.�

�You don�t think that would merit a phone call?�

�Let�s just say that I wasn�t exactly pleasant company for a while.�

�Well, you seem all right now,� Diane said, eyeing him closely.