.." Look, Mom. You screwed Dad..." But he was my husband." He was also a man who gave you what you wanted and needed. Then there was that store manag...er, what's his name?" Ben." Yeah, Ben. It may have started as you being pressured into it, but you grew to love it. You may not have been madly in love with him, but he supplied what you wanted. I can do the same." I'm sorry, Joel. As much as I love you for offering, it just isn't right. Why, I'm so much older than you for one thing." Thirteen. Somehow, I managed to remember my manners, and stood to hold her chair as she joined us at the table. A wave of John's hand summoned an attentive waiter to take Mary's drink order. By the time her cocktail reached our table, John was half-way through recounting my tale of having seen her all those years ago, and how I'd been so awe-struck by her beauty.I was dead-certain that Mary could feel the heat of my blush, even across the table from me, and I was mentally evaluating the wisdom of. Since I said nothing, Brad continued."I'm so, so sorry. I think you're a wonderful girl, and I only want the best for you in life. I hope you know that."Still, I said nothing, and he kept going."I know you're probably mad at me now, but I hope with time we can become friends again." What?" I finally gasped. "What are you talking about, Brad?" Uh. Look, I know this is hard for you. I know you have a lot invested in this thing." This THING? Are you out of your fucking mind?" Here's where I turned. An empty plate left on the shelf and a very fat cat was the only evidence a crime had been committed. Jessie was about to clobber the cat when it occurred to her that the house was unnaturally quiet. There was a very strange feeling in the air and for a moment the fine hairs in the back of her neck stood up. ‘Eleanor?’ she called loudly. Surely the old woman had not gone to bed. She did tend to nod off on a fairly regular basis, but it was much too early for her to have turned in for the night.