”He laid there thinking about what I said and looked at me and asked “If I do...if I meet someone, if you don't like her I am going to kick her to... the curb.”I leaned up and kissed him and said “I love you too... you're going to be in my life and Peter's for a long time. You have not met him yet but I am sure he is going to be a very good friend to you as well. I know I can count on you. I can see that you have tremendous loyalty and a good spirit. I could never do this with you if I did not. It was what my wife wanted, and I love herdearly, and it all seemed harmless enough. I wasn't really surprised by it. Even before we decided to getmarried I knew she liked me looking a little androgynous. Shebought me wide-legged slacks to wear on dates, with no fly in frontat all, tight in the crotch and buttoned on the side, and it wassome time before I realized they were women's slacks, not some modstyle of menswear. She got me tailored shirts that buttoned thewrong way, cut a little. " Stop it," Walt said. "It's not funny, Mary. It irks Sean when you rag on him about things like that, so knock it off."Adam expected the fireworks to start any minute. It wasn't funny but Mary didn't like getting called out in front of others, particularly by Walt. Instead Mary blushed."I'm sorry, Sean," she said. "I get stupid sometimes. But I like your Mom and I want her to be happy. She deserves to find someone to spend the best part of her life with. I'll stop picking on you about it,. "You got anew pacifier?! Where'd you get it?" Gift store, in the mall we went to," he explained quietly. "I actuallywore it under my mask." You should have shown it to us!" she quietly squealed some more. Thechat had been largely quiet yesterday, mostly occupied by Caroline andLeslie having a long and meandering conversation about recuperation whileMajid had been teaching Susie how to drive. She hugged him harder,looking over to the rest of the group, which was throwing more and moreglances.