He started to protest and then stopped and admitted that she had a point. I left them talking about the benefits and dangers of alcohol. Mrs. Winston was already well into the most popular beverages in the John Quincy Adams White House. It brought a smile to my face as I left to do what I had promised and stopped in to see Jim after dinner.
"I guess I didn't give you such a great introduction to Quincy, Massachusetts," he said, still feeling sorry for himself and still trying to get me to say kind things.
"I never asked for that. You were very kind to worry about me and offer to take me home, Jim. Let's leave it at that. Get back on your feet, and go back to work."
He nodded, looked down for a moment, and then raised his head slowly. "Can I confess?
" he asked.
"It's not necessary," I told him.
