She kept telling herself she’d done as her father would have wanted – but that was small consolation now, standing here, paying her final respects.... She should have tried harder, bargained with her goddess longer. She should have found a way to save both her oldest sister and her father.Her world had become much darker with the absence of her father. It was as if the sun had grown dimmer. It was as if all of the joy had been pulled from everything around her. She continued on – her goddess would. In dining Ted noticed that Joni was getting some appreciative looks from the patrons that were there. He was proud that she was getting these looks as in a way it was a compliment to him that she was dining with him.Back at the condo they sat on the balcony taking in the nice view it offered as well seeing some of the limited boating activity because of it being close to dark. He pointed out to her television weatherman Peter Harrington and his wife as they were walking in the parking lot. "Yes, I'm sure."The man wearing the purple, long-tailed coat, stepped in front of me, lifted my chin and spat in my face. "Who are you?" he demanded.I told him my name, testing the knots and looking across at the young woman who watched me, lips swollen and blood-flecked."What are you doing here?" He demanded, taking a pair of heavy leather gloves from a nearby table and flexing his hand into one. I found a loose end and worked at it."I know your wife, an old friend," I said as calmly as I. " "Hey! Hold on there!" Mike complained. "What do youmean, 'that takes care of the clothing issue'?" "Trust me, kiddo, if you can prance around in a dressthat fairly screams, 'Fuck the shit out of me, please!' anda pair of your standard issue 'sock it to me' stilettoheels, you aren't going to have a bit of trouble wearingwomen's clothing." Mike didn't have a comeback for that one. John, sherealized, was right. Mike absolutely loved the way she hadlooked decked out in that ever so sexy outfit,.