It had a window which used to open right in front of our first floor room where I used to study in night. With so many guests in their home, there als...o used to be lots of clothes for washing and since it was winter when clothes take longer to dry, the ladies of the house used to dry them at neighbors homes including ours.One day when I was studying in the day time, there was knocking at our door. I opened the door and found a smiling Geetu standing there with a bucket full of washed clothes.. ”Jens complains, “Dang it! I guess we will miss the birth of Liz’s baby.”I hand my phone to her and suggest, “Give them a call and let them know.”Jens makes the call while I watch the two idiots laying on the floor in front of Thom, they finally wake up and begin to whine.Thom comes over and says, “Thanks for covering my six.”I reply, “No problem, I knew what was happening when they followed you into the store.”Jens comes over and says, “Well they made it to the hospital just fine and Liz is in. Steve showed her which her room was, and going into the room opposite, he left her to unpack saying, for her to join him for a drink on the patio outside when she was ready. That evening passed in a bit of a haze, as they ate a simple bbq and salad and downed perhaps rather too much of the local rose wine, and as she settled into her soft bed, she was asleep in minutes. The next day, Steve announced at breakfast that he was going to shop and then go to the nearest beach, inviting Mary to join. Besides, most of my work came from personal recommendation and I needed the work, so I didn’t hesitate to confirm my identity to the female caller.“Yes, Madam, I am Mr Onslow. How may I help you?”I almost straightened my back as if back on parade, one time the Army or until recently the Metropolitan Police. Her voice was unmistakably American, but carried with it an air of authority, and therefore a complete expectation of the immediate and satisfactory service of her yet to be specified.