"Not for the date. But it could be useful for it anyway."

Neal's heart gives a pleasant but sad little squeeze. "Well, I didn't say re-use the idea. I just said that he would love it. We can do better though. I can help."

He picks up his shoes without putting them on, deciding to leave that until he can clean the sand off his feet. It's not a long way to the house on King--beachfront property and all that--and the inside is significantly cleaner than it had been that morning. Neal walked into the living room, gesturing at the blank walls--paintings removed, furniture shoved to the middle of the floor. "I need to start the painting in here, and it won't be anything too fancy on short notice, but here's your venue."