He said she would need a new heater, that otherwise things would start to fall apart, but that for the present he’d be able to solder the leak shut ...and make it safe for her to have hot water into the near future. It took all of fifteen minutes and twenty dollars and a promise to call him when she had saved enough for a new heater.They stood at the doorway and talked for a short while, business and some pleasure, Edy actually being a bit sad to see him go. And yet even better than promised, two. While buying the rest of the stuff, I saw a liquor store and also bought a bottle of whiskey. While waiting for a cab near a street market, I saw a guy selling some nice floral pattern skirts. I bought one with a nice white sleeveless top. I was all excited to get dressed up en femme and I quickly took a cab and reached my hotel.I went to my room and threw all the new stuff on my bed, went to the bathroom and cleaned and lubed my hole. I had a warm bath, and applied lotion on my body. I dried. We weren't ready for that I guess. If it was going to happen, it would happen, but not this time. It didn't matter. For the first time in more than two years, I felt just the tiniest hint of optimism. Maybe, just maybe, we had a chance.EpilogueThere are two housekeeping items as I call them. First, Joyce finally told me that she had gone through a cancer scare just before she went on that infamous trip with the other women. She had not told me because she thought I would worry and it would just. .." I trailed off"Well, what? Don't play coy with me."I blushed a little."I think we both were seeking more sexually aggressive partners?" Jack!" I know, I just like a bossy woman, I suppose. And she wanted a guy to ruthlessly plow her." I joked.V looked at me, squinting a little, analyzing me, almost. Not a mean glare, not a sympathy stare, it was more like hunger. She'd given me flirty looks over the years but this was a little different.We made it to the convention center, checked in, got.