There was no telling her to do her homework; she'd have it done. Tiffany was very sober, responsible, and competent for a nine-year-old, and somehow, ...Mike wondered how they'd come up with raising such a child. Henry was more like you expected for a six-year-old, a typical pain in the butt, but Tiffany could keep him under control when Mike and Kirsten couldn't."What's the homework today?" Mike asked."Multiplying three-digit numbers," Tiffany replied, and then frowned, "It's HARD, Daddy."Mike. "Honey, Rick said the pay increase would more than cover it, and that hedidn't want me having to work anymore. I thought you would be happy," shesaid pouting."I am happy, it's just I don't like feeling like a third wheel, as youand Rick make all the decisions!" I said."Honey don't feel like that. I love you and you're my husband, but Rickis really smart, successful, and assured me he knows what's best. He's afew years older than us and said he has had experience with couples likeus, and knows. She took a shower and went to straight to bed. The next morning at breakfast she ignored me and Taylor. We both tried to apologize and Karen treated us like we were not even there. We received this silent treatment for three days.On the third day Taylor and I were watching TV in the den when Karen entered and stood in the middle of the room. She looked first to me and then to Taylor and then said, “How could you?” Taylor and I got up and cautiously approached her. There was a terrible hurt in. “Did you hear me? Are you even listening to me? Take me upstairs and fuck me. Right this instant!”I realized that no matter what I did, I ran the risk of losing a friend. In the end, it really was up to Bethany. I hadn’t misled her or lied to her. She knew exactly where we stood. I stood up and took her hand and led her into the house and up the stairs to her room.I pulled her to me and we kissed, our tongues twisting and twirling around in her mouth. I broke the kiss and unbuttoned her shirt.