With a final kiss, I pushed her to sit on the bed and quickly dried myself off and as I did this Nicola gave her hair a cursory rub.“I have a presen...t for you,” I said, as I started to root through my bag.“Ooh, just a sec., I’ll get dressed.”“No, I think you’re dressed perfectly.”I handed the tube to Nicola and the first thing she did was shake it.“No, you’re fine, it’s not breakable.”With a giggle, she put a hand over her mouth, "Oops, sorry."The wrapping was shredded and dropped to the floor. Boys and old men likeM. Verdun are fine. It is just adult men that bother me." Leon?" Rachael said. "Did he do something?" No dear, it is not him. It is me. Things happened when I was younger,and now I am not comfortable around men. That is why it is such ablessing that you go to the grocery for me. I had to fight very hard notto have one of my anxiety attacks while I was shopping. That is also whyI have two big dogs. I love them dearly now, but originally I got themfor protection. A man next. I was left to my own devices, as to how I might get there and back. I started walking at a brisk pace, and arrived at Fairborn Hall in an hour and a half's time. I was led by a serving girl through the servant's door, and thence, into the great hall. Mr. Rutledge was one the two brothers who had accompanied the lady back to her in laws three months after her husband's death. He was a well set up young man in his early twenties, tall, and with a lighter hair color than his sister. They both. “I did not recognize her in her new existence. Why should she recognize me?”“But you did recognize her, Father,” Elaine said. “She is ever your favorite, beloved before any other. Her very presence soothes your aching soul. Before she died, Alana ordered the Praetor to make certain your mind did not connect the two of you until her tasks were complete.”“How do you know all this, Child?” Sibilius asked, half convinced, now.Elaine smiled. “You gave me my memories back, Father, when you showed me.