I want to marry you." I know Jake, and I love you too, but you know they won't let me marry you, 'til I'm eighteen, and finish school next year. It se...ms like for-ever, darling."The sun sank toward the horizon, and finally, the lower edge hid behind the horizon, the light faded under the bush, and the other picnickers headed to their cars, and home. By full dark, Jake and Maggie were the only ones still there. The oppressive heat of the after-noon had faded, and they had pulled the blanket. Going to the back bedroom window I discovered Stu and Erline doing unspeakable sexual things to Stacy. Within moments Barry and Lisa came in and they all had a group “session” together.Assisting in Barry’s “suicide,” when he shot himself, I saw to that justice was done in his case. A week later Stu and Erline’s bodies were found in their motor home submerged in the Lake of the Ozarks in Arkansas. They were on their way to Branson. Funny, I feel guilty telling you this now ... not guilty of what. ” I leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss, trying to lend her some emotional strength.“Oh, God!”The voice startled me and I looked up to see Lili standing in the hallway, a look of shock on her face.“Now I know why you pushed me away, Col.” A shudder passed through her. “I knew the two of you were very close, but I didn’t realise just how close or in what way.” And she swept away, leaving Col and me sitting there, minds in turmoil: we had just made a difficult situation so very much worse.We sat. “What do we do now?” Sally asked, concern evident in her voice. Lenny sped up and left the scene quickly. “Nothing.” “Nothing?” “Well, I take you home, and we tell your mother your brother ditched us and is now in custody.” “Who were those other guys in the green car?”“MP’s.” He looked over at her. “Military Police. How much you want to bet that Danny Zimmer’s not supposed to be on leave?”“Or maybe that he didn’t actually buy all that beer?” Sally added with a snort. It was common knowledge.