“Yeah. Not surprising. She told me when the parties started happening. We weren’t even married six months and she was everybody’s whore. What re...ally blew it for me was finding out she’s always been Mitch’s whore. He was fucking her when he introduced her to me and they just never stopped. How many of you was she banging back then? Were there orgies on nights she was ‘studying’? Was she slipping off with you guys one or two at a time when I was distracted at parties?”The look on his face told me. Lauren winked and turned toward the espresso machine, where she began to measure and tamp the decaf espresso shots she needed for Artie’s drink. The door buzzed and Lauren called out ‘I’ll be with you in a minute!’ and then went back to singing for Artie. She poured the frothy milk over the espresso into a mug and handed it over to Artie. ‘Cause I only have eyes for you’ she sang as she handed him his drink. A big grin spread on Artie’s face as he patted her hand. ‘You’re real keeper darlin’.. ”Jesse nodded his agreement, “They’d have been told that it’s a national movement, that they’re part of something larger.” Throb, throb.Jessie smiled at her brother, “And they’re proud, probably honored, to be part of it.”I said, “It’s smart, when you look at it clinically. Since each cell has to fund itself, that self-sorts for the really committed. Eliminates the hangers-on. If you’re willing to pay to be part of The Restoration, you’re self-identifying as a True Believer. Devout, almost.”I. ”“Nice to meet you too. I’m Phoebe.” Her voice was barely above audible levels.“Alright.” Melissa cast a suspicious glance at the young girl. “Brandon, could you get the ribbons cut. I need about five feet long for each strand.”“How many do you need?”“A couple of dozens. A few strands form each wheel.” She pointed at the box filled with wheels of ribbon.After my third cut, I realized how difficult it was to cut them. I thought cutting ribbons was an easy task. But those damn things kept curling.