The brakes immediately engage with a squeal, throwing me forward andalmost off the bike carrier. I regain my balance just in time to jumpoff the bus a...s it slows. Keeping low, I run around to the driver's side,making sure to first check for traffic. I scoot along the length of thebus to the back then drop down to look for the driver's feet. He'saround the front walking left, then right, then back left. Backing awayfrom the bus about twenty feet, I dart for the sidewalk when he startsto walk down. My partners wished me luck and said that they were happy to let me have the time away. I found out that they had been afraid I would suicide when Lisa pulled her stunt and were sure they were going to lose a partner and friend. They were ecstatic that Beth and I had found each other. We took the RV and disappeared for nearly two months. We visited most of the mountain parks and even went and visited Niagara Falls. We crisscrossed the country in no particular hurry. We took our time and enjoyed. I know I am your date tonight and I will do what I can to convince your friends, but you need to remember that I am your stepmother and we need to keep some boundaries. I understand that might seem weird, given what happened between us before, but we can't go back there. What we did wasn't right." But it felt right," Sam said, taking her hand. "It was so good, wasn't it?" It was good. It was great, but it wasn't right. I really do feel like a mother to you boys and it wasn't right to do. You're leaving today," Denise said."That's right," Karen replied. Dale had told her earlier that week that she had completed the program and could leave today."I'm going to miss you," Denise said nuzzling the back of Karen's neck."I'm going to miss this, but I have to admit that it's been a strange living here," Karen said."In what way?" Denise asked."Remember that morning right after I finished my stay at Claire's?" Which morning?" Denise asked."The morning when the pumpkin shorts appeared on.