He liked to gesture, you know those kind of people, and him and Viv were talking some boring citizen stuff, while I was figuring my plans.It was a goo...d way to kill some nervous time.=2=2=2=2=2=2=2=2=2="You don't lose my stuff," I smiled up at Viv while I waited for my purse."But why do you have to go tonight?" Her green eyes were dark and she'd been unhappy to learn I wouldn't be coming home with her."Viv, she'll be back." Ransom rubbed his jaw, he had to go to work soon, but he'd see Vivian. Thebusybody was always sure to pop her head over the fence and start anembarrassing conversation with Daphne or Emma, to find out what thesissy baby had been up to lately and learn what new little-girllifestyle activity he'd been forced to pursue.Mummy stopped and turned back to her bound baby in the highchair. "Oh! Inearly forgot! Jake was so excited last night, he ripped that lovelyblack Basque off my body and tore out some the hooks. I'm sure it can bemended, sweetie. Why don't you and Nanny. I fidgeted while the line kept ringing until the machine picked up.“You’ve reached Fox Upholstery. No one is available to take your call right now. Please leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you!” Jen’s mom’s cheerful voice gave me no relief.I didn’t leave a message, and I know immediately how much that would irritate me to get no message on a missed call. I briefly considered calling again, then second-guessed myself.She has a game too, I thought. She might not. She was acutely aware of her heart pounding inher chest as she nervously pulled out the smallcardboard box her friend Jessica had given her for herseventeenth birthday a week earlier.Samantha knew what was inside the Vans shoebox thoughshe hadn’t had the nerve to open it yet. Such thingswere taboo, ungodly, a sin and she knew her parentswouldn’t approve. She had almost thrown it away a dozenor more times over the past week out of fear that hermother might accidently find it, but her.