She smiled and replied: “Hi, I am alone as the helpers have already gone home.”I said, “I actually want to buy some ladies things. So if you are...not about to close the shop, can I come inside?”She said, “Of course, there is time. Please come in.”She asked what I would like to buy. I just showed her some pics in mobile and asked if I could get them there.She said, “sure, what size and which type?”I didn’t have any idea and kept quiet. She asked me if I mind telling her to whom they were for. I. "I narrowed my eyes. "Katie, there are no holes in my head." Given the company you keep, that remains to be seen." Then she held upher hands defensively. "Sorry. Sorry. Please, continue."I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs at the knee. I didn'teven realized I'd done it until I had. Kind of scary, actually. For amoment, I wondered if the subconscious actions would fade over time. Orwould they simply increase? That, however, was a storm for another day."Do you remember that old sci-fi. "My husband is cheating on me" she stated in a matter of fact manner. "He has found a younger model" she looked at me, "I will have that drink she took my hand and led me to a more private area. The cellar. We walked passed the red wine , the white wine, and were standing in front of a floor to ceiling stack of whisky. Bourbons, single malt, blends, most were very old dust had settled on some bottles. She grabbed a very old bottle of single malt whiskey, opened the bottle and took a swig.. I could smell his sweat, healthy, clean. Even in the moonlight I couldn’t see his eyes very well, but I heard and felt his breathing.“She’s fine, Dad, there’s nothing wrong.”“She’s good, Dad,” Harper said. She leaned forward to look at Julian. “Go ahead, Julian, tell him what’s going on.”I heard a slight giggle. I’m not sure whether it was Harper or Julian. Julian stopped and turned to face me.“We’ve been exploring a little, Dad.”I noted Julian’s use of ‘we’ with approval.“Harper knows. She’s.