I found myself hoping that she'd never leave. Hell, I'd have slept in atent in the backyard if it meant she'd stay. For whatever reason AuntMelissa wa...s far easier to talk to than Mom. I hoped I wasn't turning intoa narcissist, but I soon found myself in the sewing room staring at myreflection in the full length mirror. Besides worrying about Sam, I wasterrified at the prospect of returning to school on Tuesday. I wasn'teven really sure why.I'd lived the last few months of my life as Joan,. I’ll wash your clothes while you sleep.”I nodded, stripped down, and remained sitting on the bed, watching her as she took my clothes. She smiled at me, never looking at anything other than my eyes, and I realized that she was telling me the truth: she had no desire to have sex with me. I felt a little disappointed but didn’t say anything.Scarlet moved around to the side of the bed and pulled back the cover. She patted the bed, looking at me.I stood up, naked as the day I was born, and walked. Just as they were about to turn in the driveway, they met Jackie and Cumulus in the pickup truck coming the other way, towing the sailplane trailer. "What brings you guys out here?" Jackie asked."We thought maybe we could get you or Mark to turn the telescope on the moon for us," Josh said."Can't for a while," Jackie told him. "Mark landed out over by Warsaw. I didn't think there was time enough to get a Warsaw run in, but the lift was real strong, and he took off from work early, so he thought. ”I gave him a small half-smile, and took a deep breath.“Yeah, thanks.”I dodged clothing and pulled two laundry hampers out of my closet. I grabbed an armful of clothing and started making piles: Lights, darks, linens and delicates. I named each pile as I made them, letting Troy know what each pile was for. I grabbed another armload and started sorting.“If you have any questions about where something goes, either ask me, or read the tag.”“Got it, boss,” he answered, gathering up his own armload,.