I tossed my purse on the couch and flicked the light switch but it didn’t work. I heard my husband’s voice.“First, relax, I have a surprise for ...you. Don’t talk until I say so. Nod in agreement if you understand.”I nodded, though filled with anticipation at the forcefulness of his statement."Okay, Lady Eowyn, shield-maiden of Rohan, slayer of the Witch-king. I’m not Aragorn, just Faramir, a lowly captain of Gondor. If you will have me remove your clothes but leave your bra, panties, and put the. It served its competitivepurpose in the pool, but a very different one today.I set the black overnight bag on the counter of the vanity and pausedbefore removing its contents. My eyes moved up, and bored in on myreflection. I stared hard, challenging myself. Are you really ready todo this? Yes, I answered. I have to. I really have to.I reached into the bag and removed the things that I had hid away in thesafe deposit box because even after marriage I couldn't simply throw themaway: a. I promise to take your secret to my grave,” Adeline asked, her own words sent a shiver down her spine. I laughed, “Fair enough. You will tell me one secret in return. Insurance of sorts, for both of us.” Adeline nodded and swallowed hard in anticipation of what I would reveal to her. “I am unsettled at the sight of stone gargoyles,” I confessed. Adeline stopped walking and eyed me for a moment. “You are making fun of me, Luke. That is not nice.” “I am telling you the truth. I don’t. It was obvious because she was nude from the waist down. Furthermore, she was bleeding from the crotch. My first thought was that she must be a rape victim, and that was why she was bleeding and staggering about. At that moment, I was so unlucky as to catch a whiff of her breath. I swear, she had so much whiskey on her breath that she could breath out a stream of flame if someone would only hold a lit taper up before her mouth.In dodging back to escape the fumes emitted by her mouth, I happen.