“So does that mean I can crash with you?” I asked her again. “Do you even have to ask?” She laughed. “You practically have a free pass to m...y houses. My parents probably would not even freak out if you showed up and stayed the night and I was not even there. You are like their kid too.” “Okay,” I smiled, thinking over what she had just said, wondering if it were really the truth. Would I be able to show up and just be welcome? I loved Stephanie, I really did, but at times I wished that I had. Later in the conversation it also became clear that Teresa (Suzy's mother) had been at one time one of Don's lovers, something Grace was a partner to, but of course the children knew nothing about.While Amanda, Suzy and Tim were having fun in the nearby stream, we adults were having a discussion while laying on blankets in the shade.Teresa suddenly brought my tension to a peak when she said:"John, I heard that you had some argument with Suzy at the beginning of the year."I sat up, and looked. Most were happy birthdaywishes from relatives. I saw one from Bridgette, the German lady who was always so friendlyto me and the other neighborhood young boys. She lived down the block on our same street in a corner house five houses down from us. Bridgett often invited young boys to come in and have some lemonade and cookies on hot summer days, Oreos and hot chocolate during the winter, and was a convivial and spirited host who talked to us in a loud German-accented voice."Boys, how is school. Pushes his fingers through his balding gray hair. Sweat covering his face as he begans to cough loudly, covering his mouth. Ashley walks to him quickly and grabs his shoulder, taking him over to a couch in his office to sit down. Jay looks up from the couch at Ashley as she is holding a glass of water and Jays medication for his heart. He takes them from her and takes the pill, he has a condition with his heart. Too much stress leaves him very open to the possibility of heart attacks. Ashley.