And this was the one area that I had something to offer in any hope of a relationship. My wit, sense of humor and ability to carry an intelligent con...versation had no outlet with girls my own age. I got a good job at an office and I was dealing with computers and account management for clients all over the country and was doing well for myself financially. My friends that had moved down with me ended up moving back due to lack of decent employment after about a year and a half, but I had made. “I’m not married Suzanne. My wife died several years ago; that makes me a widow and a liar as well. I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you before, but until I met you face to face I couldn’t. It was because I had to have an out with people on line in case someone got too close to my reality.” She was in shock; she’d imagined the worst and had heard what amounted to a revelation. Her mind was frantic, was he telling her this so he could have her more trapped by his charm? Why would he tell her even. ‘Yeah. It’s from the Rogue River up by Shady Cove. It’s warm because I had it included in the Hydronic heat system when I had the house built. The whole place is heated with hot water circulated through the floors, and in this case as well as the steam room and the other showers, just behind the stone. Spread your legs.’ As she did, I slid the wash fuzzy between her legs and washed her butt. It was adorable, and made me think happy thoughts. ‘Would you like me to shave your legs, Annie?’. What else could she do? Julie had gone, wanting to be with us but convinced she couldn’t. It hurt. All of us were hurt. Poor stricken Julie. Convinced she didn’t deserve to be happy, was what it came down to. If I’d known who had put that foolish notion in her head, or, worse, laid the groundwork for it so she’d build it herself, I’d have beat the silly sod hollow. I’d never have killed him. I’d want to beat him hollow again and again and again. Poor Julie. Poor me – us. None of us were much.