He had a log of soft wood split into quarters already and a large lump of coal. He used the tongs to put two of the quarters on the still-burning logs....George wrapped the shivering Esther in his arms and stood her facing what fire there was – and, thus, Ian’s back.Ian used the back of the hatchet to smash the lump of coal. He brushed the fragments into the pan and used the pan to spread them evenly over the front quarter-log. He then applied himself to the bellows. Soon, the two pieces of wood. She called him a naughty boy and punished him for being that way. Jessica was standing there for about five minutes watching this before the couple noticed her. They all kind of stared at each other in an awkward silence until Jessica broke it with words that she never thought she would say in her entire life.“Do you want me to help you with that?” she asked, not knowing what she was getting herself into. “No, we’re actually done here” Sarah said, “Put some fucking cloths on you worthless. OK. You too. Bye.’ She kept her eyes locked on his as she spoke, trying to make it clear that she wanted to be there for him if he needed it. She watched as the corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly into a little smile and the previously missing twinkle returned just for a second to his grey eyes. ‘Look David,’ she said pausing before continuing, ‘I know that I don’t know you very well at all. And I can only imagine and assume what’s going on in your life right now, but I am here for. I touched up my makeup - no sense looking frumpy. Then I totteredover on my new, four-inch stilettos, and knocked on Mark's door.He was home! And alone! And very concerned about my distress! AndVERY handsome and hunky from all that manual labor on his job.Maybe the day was improving.Mark invited me in and I began to cry. Tears were flying from myeyes, as it did in those old romance comic books, remember? Anyway,Mark hugged me to comfort me. He asked me to tell him what waswrong and I raised my.