" Betsy whispered, reaching across and touching my arm. Walking to the house she slid her arm through mine and hugged it to her side. "Promise me we'l...l do this again!" We could do it tomorrow if you stay overnight." I offered. I was rewarded with an even tighter hug. I was conscious of the softness of her breast as she pressed my arm against it. Then we were inside, laughing as we saw each other's hair. Mine was standing out sideways and wildly confused, but Betsy's looked like she had been. “I don’t now Selena. Maybe you and Jack could take a ride over to his place soon and say hello—again. I mean he is Jack’s father-in-law too,” said Nathan Grimes.“Dad, I know he sacrificed a lot for mom. But this is me. He needs to get that and be a member of the family instead of whining about his divorce and everything,” said Selena.“He was in prison for fifteen years, Selena. That’s a real hard nut to overcome. Plus, he saved my life, don’t forget,” said Nathan. She shrugged.“No, I haven’t. As they entered a game was in progress. Pierre smiled and approached them."My good friends, how wonderful to see you again. Sun Ling, our host is engaged at the moment," he said motioning to the board, a life-size board of squares laid out on royal blue felt which covered a major portion of the floor."How did you fare?" asked Elena."Ah, not well, I'm afraid. Maurice took my lovely Adrianna with a move I have rarely seen before. Beware, my friends, he is ruthless at this game." Indeed," mused. Tina was unsure of the next step.In a very ironic way, the next step was not her choice. Working a stingoperation as a prostitute on the South Side, Tina ended up in seriouscondition after a coked-up john stabbed her, once in the abdomen and oncein the shoulder. Fortunately, no vital organs were damaged, but there wasplenty of blood loss, and a stay of a week in Intensive Care, followed byweeks of therapy and various surgeries. The police career of LieutenantTommaso C. Genovese was over; Tommy.