I say she’ll just accept you’re trying to help and she’ll do it without complaint. She knows the backyard is private.”Claire rolled her eyes. ...“Suuuurrrrree, dad. Weren’t you listening? Mom will get me back for just suggesting it!” Claire’s tone was completely condescending.“Oh, so you’re scared of a possible payback for suggesting your mom practice her fitness? What would make it worth your while then? Just asking her, I mean. She’s not an ogre, pumpkin!”“She IS an ogre sometimes, dad! What. " Alba is fucking gorgeous," I said. "Marissa is strong enough to be the hen-mother for my concubines, but there's a difference between sisters and concubine-sisters." If she isn't fair, Maria would fucking lose it," Stephen said with a nod. "Yeah, you can't play games with that shit." Unless Marissa can treat the others as Alba's equal, I'm better off going a different route," I told him."Unless you find someone else to ride shotgun on them," he said.I tilted my head and looked at him."You. I don’t know exactly who started it. But I have an idea. Remember that party we went to? Landon and London’s party? I saw something there that you weren't supposed to...” Christian said.That evening, after Ashley Mendes got dropped off at her place...“Thanks for the ride, Chris,”“Anytime, girl. Oh, and Ash...”“Yeah?" Ashley said, while getting out.“Remember what I told you at work...”She nodded and sashayed away. She opened the door. The lights flickered on.“I waited all day for you,. "Was that for me?" Yes, my darling, it most certainly was!" Sorry, Gustav, hopefully later!"I phoned Julie at lunch break and told her our news; she was delighted for us, and told me to ask Jen to phone her when she got a chance.Tuesday was a 'normal' ten-hour day at work, and we got home in time to have a late supper with Mum and Dad.We could have actually got home in time to have a not-quite-that-late supper, but I had offered to teach Jen a bit more advanced kissing on the way home.We had.