"At least tell me she's getting better."Brooke's wince was answer enough. "She's still losing weight. Practically a skeleton now."I grimaced and shook... my head. "I wish there was something I could do."Brooke nodded. "Me too. But you're the problem, so you can't." Seems like I'm everyone's problem nowadays."Brooke didn't know what to say to that.I sighed and then gestured for her to follow me to my car. For some reason, I hadn't been able to bring myself to ride the motorcycle, even though it was. Alice had never expected to see her daughter, again, but was overjoyed to see her. The trouble was, this was not the naïve girl who had left home months ago—this was a sophisticated man-hunter on the prowl. Annie was tickled to be able to return the $20 that her mother had given her when she departed, and it was even more fun to add $50 to that. The surprise on her mother's face was worth even more, but Annie did have to conserve her resources.Annie told her mother everything that had happened,. I told him one step at a time and kissed him before I said we needed to sleep as we had to get up in five hours. We fell asleep in each other's arms and I remember thinking what would Debbie make of me now.When I woke up I returned to my room letting Steve sleep on as he must be needing it after shagging me all week. I rang my Debbie to wish her luck as she was to receive her final caning off Miss Artur as punishment for the hockey match fracas. She told me she was so excited that she was. After Jack’s funeral, when it’s all over, you can come to live with me if you want. Or sometime later if you like, whenever you feel ready.”“Do you really really mean that?”“Yes, of course, I do. I love you, kitten, and I’ll do anything for you.”Beth threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with a grateful passion.When she eventually broke the kiss, Mr. Harper asked, “Is that your way of saying yes, you will come to live with me?”Beth gave him a quizzical look. She thought her response had.