” The pang of humiliation from being given such direct orders in front of the kids was going to take a long time to get used to.“Yes Sir thank you... Sir.”I spent the rest of the afternoon running around the house, trying to keep up with the mountains of work left to finish. Kate was helpful in her own way, occasionally checking in to help me decide where I should put Vince’s things. She had spent a lot of time on her makeup and hair. She looked so tantalizing in the short dress she had chosen for. Millie knew why I was there. She seemed slightly bemused by the whole situation. I was starting to feel a bit awkward. It must have shown. Ms. Betty switched seats with Millie and asked me to join her on the couch. I felt a bit more comfortable that way.We all talked for a bit longer and then Ms. Betty excused herself. Millie was looking me over like a side of beef. I sat quietly and tried to ignore it. Ms. Betty had gone into her bedroom and I could hear her doing something. I just wasn't sure. " Because everyone wants him to act like they think he should act," Sam snapped. "Because all these people out here expected him to comfort them for their ordeal and completely forgot that he's the one who got hurt. My daughter is the worst. She just ran off and left him when he wouldn't react the way she thought he should. But the rest of them aren't much better." Emmy, too?" Esmi asked."Her name didn't come up specifically but I'm sure she's as much to blame as the rest of them," Sam said.. Tell me what you need from me." I noticed the redness of her eyes, and the uneven tone of her complexion. She looked older, unrested, and very vulnerable. I felt bad about forcing her to reveal this part of her condition to me. I could see that she was none too happy to be placed in this position by me either. I had, put simply, played on her sense of duty to me. I did it to advance the cause of my own curiosity, for purely selfish reasons. I had compelled her to put herself on display. I knew.