I toured a huge, beautiful house with a potential client. Tracy was in here element, and the client was sold. The house’s owners were in Europe for... the holidays.After the call, Tracy asked if I’d like to go out for a drink. I said sure.We went to a bar, and began to talk. About my wife, Lynn’s, passing. About Tracy, Lynn’s, and their siblings growing up. Then Tracy turned her attention on me.“Doug, you seem to be doing OK, but I noticed you’re still a bit down”.“Yes, it’s only been about six. "Oh, gods, Amanda," Sirinna whispered. "That was so wonderful." I'm happy you're pleased," Amanda said softly. "Sirinna, I'm so sorry I pushed you away last night." Whatever do you mean, love?" You wanted to do this last night, and I refused you." Oh, it's all right, Amanda. A lot happened yesterday." Well, a lot more happened this morning, and here we are."Amanda had said it gently, but Sirinna could hear the undertone of self-admonishment in it. "Please, Amanda, don't worry about it. You. She did not enjoy blighting a living organism, but lantana was a serious problem and it had to be done.Away to the south, her nearest neighbour was miles distant – and meetings were infrequent: special occasions still coloured with an undercurrent of fear resulting from the plagues that had nearly scoured all people from the land.Harriet sensed Joy and her daughter, Samma going about their day, witches like herself, as were a significant minority of the women that Harriet had ever met.. As they passed, she said to thenail specialist, "A rounded quarter inch, glossy black."I watched quietly as she put spacers between my toes. She massaged my feetand then filed my toenails. She looked through her bottles and pulled oneout and shook it. And then painted the nails a glossy black.The manicurist smiled. "What do you think?"I looked down at my toes. I had never worn polish before. "They lookbeautiful," I gushed.As she stood up, she nodded. Then she pointed between my legs. "May.