He seemed put out but didn't take it too bad, having had a lotof girls come and go, but my work-mates, especially Chelsea, were reallydisappointed I w...s leaving.By the beginning of March, any lingering pain and discomfort from myoperation was gone. Dr. Cooper removed the last remnants of my stitchesand pronounced me ready to face the world, or something like that. Itook her to mean I could have intercourse if and when the time was right- and I expected it could happen that very month.A couple. ” I said back to her with a wink as I started for the bedroom to change. After I had changed and gone back to the living room, the girls told me they were giving me all the make-up and the mirror to have so I could practice and experiment with different shades and such before the weekend. They told me I needed to get really good at it as I would be the one putting everything on this weekend by myself. They told me I had to make it perfect as they were coming up with something really good. ” When she returned the men were sat across from each other, each nursing a pint of beer, laughing and obviously at ease with each other. Richard pointed to the glass of chilled white wine waiting for her on his side of the table. “Wine? – You two seem happy,” she said Richards arm came around her shoulder again, as he pulled her to him and whispered into her hair. “I thought we could go home to mine, I haven’t changed the sheets yet and I thought we could get them really dirty first!” His. She decided to let it go for now. Despite the hurt beingflung back and forth, they hadn't actually done anything, and so shewasn't going to do anything. Richard, too, was relieved that his motherwas not going to do anything and so he didn't have to do anything.Something had changed, and Heather didn't know what it was. It had tobe about their disabled friend, of course. That was the onlyexplanation that made sense.She was still their mother, of course. They hadn't had dinner, and nowthat she.