She got in her car and drove away. Once she turned the corner I walked up to the house and rang the bell. There was no answer. I rang it again and the... door opened and there was Mr. Cooper standing there with a towel wrapped around his middle. He looked at his watch and said: “You’re early. I need a shower and then we can start. Come in the bedroom with me.”I walked into his big bedroom and saw the size of the bed he had. It was unmade and looked like there was a fight, covers were everywhere. Lauren’s dream faded as she realised that Rebecca had snuggled up and was cuddling her. She couldn’t see over Rebecca, but sensed that Nikki was facing the other way. She nuzzled against the older girl’s head as Rebecca rested her head on her shoulder, dozing contentedly. The snooze alarm repeated after nine minutes, still annoyingly intrusive.“Let’s roll out of bed and into the Jacuzzi. Then we can wash your hair and get you ready.” said Lauren, reaching to the floor for her dressing gown. She. Sam introduced Charlie, who was laying in the bed next to her and holding her left hand with both of his. He then introduced Bob, Charlies brother, who was standing on the other side of her bed and holding her other hand. Bob looked like he’d been crying. His eyes were red and he seemed nervous, because Mom was staring at him. Well, she kept looking back and forth at BOTH him and Charlie.Then she said the damnedest thing. She apologized for staring and said they reminded her of someone she. Her father died, years ago, when she was a little girl, in Viet Nam, or was it Cambodia? She was too young to remember him, but was told he was killed while attacking an enemy machine gun position. He would be proud of her, advancing on the chubby girl who waited for her at the wall.Lila's mother had a phrase she often repeated when faced with a daunting task: "One step at a time."Lila kept repeating this to herself as she approached Aisha:"One step at a time."Over and over again.Aisha led her.