"I figured it was you Kate. Who else would disturb my wonderful birthday pampering? OK, stop your apologizing. I was just pushing your buttons due to ...hinking back to all of your birthday mornings I've so innocently disrupted. Thanks for remembering my day, though I beat it into your head for so many years, how could you forget?"I sat back and enjoyed listening to Sarah having fun with Kate. I knew how special Kate was to Sarah, and I enjoyed when they connected with each other. I understood it. Isteered entirely clear of red meat on the whole. I didn't know why I'dordered the steak apart from the fact it had looked like one of thebigger dishes and I was so ravenous. But this was one of the nicestthings I'd ever eaten. Ever! Really first class!I chomped my way through it, grinning at the barmaid when she brought asecond beer without me needing to ask. I had a sense she was coming onto me but that really didn't make me comfortable, though part of mewondered what fun playing along with a. She couldn't contain the tiny laugh that took him back a step. "Sorry, no, I... I'm not here for me. If I was I could have picked any bloke on that beach or even my husband. This is your time... your first time, just focus on enjoying your self." The weight on Earl's shoulders just fell away with this, he didn't feel the presure to perfom that he had just momments before.He withdrew his hand, and she began to reposition on to her back. Her legs taking the position she knew they needed to be in. Nothing could have prepared her for the unexpected attack and she curled up on the floor trying to breathe. Hands grabbed her and she started to struggle and was slapped hard in the face for her trouble. By the time she'd recovered enough to start breathing, she had been dragged into a room and thrown on some mats.She immediately rolled to her feet and looked around."How ya doin', bitch?"It was Bob, of course. Him and his crew. Five of them, one of her -- which was not good, to say the least..