Thank you.”We got settled and I got a little aroused with her stretched out next to and partially on me, but it wasn’t anything that was draining ...blood from my brain. It was just nice to hold her and to be held. I kissed the top of her head and closed my eyes.“I know,” she whispered.“Hmm?”“I know how much you’re hurting, Tony. All of you. This was a good way to blow off steam, but you know it won’t last.”“Yeah. I wasn’t entirely on board. Not that I’m not participating.”“But you love her and. What would we have done if he was seriously injured?” The reprimanding voice was softer, sweeter, tinged with maturity. He tentatively opened his eyes to scout out his compartment-mates for the duration of his trip.His eyes involuntarily shoot wide open, completely caught off-guard by the beauty in front of him. Her eyes were brilliant blue with specks of brown that shimmered and glittered like gold in the sunlight. Her pale face was curtained by silky voluminous brown hair that curled at the. I was learning to accept the restrictions theyimposed and work with them instead of struggling against them all thetime. Not only that, but my body seemed to be gradually adjusting to anew shape and so, although my corset was just as tight as ever, it causedme less grief than it had to start with.Came the day, finally when Sister Sarah walked in her nightdress andnegligee and after giving little Henry a good working over, (damn her!)she gave me one of her evil smiles and I knew immediately that. .. I didn’t have any choice last time.”“We both had commitments that couldn’t be compromised back then. You with your young family and damaged father, and I had college I had to return to.”“Yes, it was ... circumstances, I suppose, beyond our control, back then.”“But now, what commitments do either of us have now, Marina?”“I suppose we are a great deal freer, to a degree.”“Exactly.”Sophie stirred in the back, saying sleepily, “Are we there yet, Daddy?”“Not quite, sweetie, go back to.