Notes on "Influencer":

•  I think Frances Goren died in April. That's when research told me crocuses are about to bloom in upstate NY (per "Endgame").

•  The flashback in this story has been in my head since I wrote "Matrimonial," but I never could find a story where it was appropriate to reference it. Alex refers to it in "Legacy."

•  And now you know how I make spaghetti sauce…

•  Fields of Fire and When I Turned Nineteen can be found at your local bookstore.

•  I didn't realize until I wrote this installment how many of the stories were about redemption, not only between Bobby and Alex, but supporting characters: Henry Cattaneo, Maureen Leighton, Donny Carlson, Laurent Pepin, Harry Cavanaugh, Alvin and Jane Danielson, Julian Volpe, Sterling Shaw...heck, in the end, even Nicole Wallace (she and Harry were my biggest surprises, because I despise Nicole and Harry was based on every boss I ever hated).