"By the gods of infernal boredom, what a bunch of blowhards and bombasts all collected into one room just for me. I swear I will make the Empress suff...er the same blathering that I've had to endure. Fuck it, I need a decent chug."She took a big swallow and count to ten. Then she repeated herself twice more. Gavril watched quietly, guessing that she needed to blow off some steam. He wasn't one to drink in silence, but he had been around enough people who did.Fayta looked as if she was praying.. “It was in the bottom of the box under the tequila,” she flatly replied. “Mom picked it up, looked at it and remarked, 'what a waste'.”“That's a bit gross,” I remarked.“Anyway, we opened a bottle of wine and drank a toast to the newlyweds. I made a remark about them enjoying their honeymoon. They were going to St Thomas, and then mom made the remark about me going without.”“Going without?” I quizzed.“I was puzzled too, and then she joked 'your sign'.”I chuckled as I too finally got it.“Now, I. Paul Reynolds. My wife and I own this place and the restaurant across the street. What brings you here, if I can ask?”We shook hands.“I needed to get away from Chicago and there’s a career coach here in town who was recommended to me by someone in Milford.”“Milford?”“I went to school there from sixth grade until I graduated, minus a year I spent overseas. Then I moved to Chicago.”“So you’re from Ohio, then?”“California originally; we moved to Ohio in ‘72. You’re from around here?”“My whole. I got to school. We were in first period together (we made sure we had every class together or we would get massively distracted. We did all of our studying and homework together, so the principal made sure we had the same schedules, to help us out) she wrote me a note, that she handed to me after class on our way to the next class. The note said, "loosen up and relax, I don't mind what happened. But your face is red, and I can tell your disturbed. And I think other people can tell too. We will.