She refused to say why, or where we were going, so I had all morning to obsess about it all.Mom had, evidently, been doing some research. I hoped that...it was web-based and not asking her paralegals and secretaries, but figured I could just never, ever go to her office again and I would be okay either way.When we pulled up in front of an adult specialty store, I was torn between excitement and horror. I had never been near a store like this and the thought of what was behind those doors was. I practiced in the heels until I wascomfortable. We loved each other.On Sunday evening Victoria and I were lounging with the TV on when shesaid, "I would like to make a bet." Okay, on what game and what's the prize?" I replied."You can pick a game this week. You can pick the consequences for me ifyou win." Really, any limits? Pierce your nipples?" Where did that come from? Would you really want me to get my nipplespierced? Rings or barbell?" I saw a picture in an article in your magazine and. ”“What’s that?”“Her mother’s love and support.”Cal started to stir from on my chest.“I don’t want to go home, I want to stay here,” she said.“I don’t think the hospital allow overnight visitors,” I replied softly.“We don’t have to tell them,” she said.“Cal,” I said, “I have a hairline fracture of the skull. They check on me every half hour or so.”“Can I come back tomorrow then?” she asked.“I’ll probably be home tomorrow,” I replied, “why don’t you come round after school?”“Can I?” she asked.“I. They were really two peas in a pod, in both good ways and bad.“My big brother Chet and his wife Mindy got the family home, part of the money, and the realty office, which Chet used to sell me a new house from my share of the cash. This house, of course. Well, pretty soon, with this whole deal, I’ll be a lot richer than him, won’t I? To be fair, he got into real estate right out of high school and learned the trade at Dad’s feet, so he was very much Dad’s favorite. He was also Mom’s, in fact. I.