"This is Don." We shake hands all around, Chris is obviously uncomfortable with this, but Connie and Melanie carry on their conversation."I work under...your husband." Connie says, letting the innuendo hang in the air. "He doesn't always give me the most satisfying projects, but I've learned a lot." I'm glad we haven't gotten drinks yet, because I think I'd be choking on mine. "Hey Chris." I say, putting my hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we get some drinks for the ladies." I turn him towards. She could test for her GED. Normally, kids that drop out and then realize they need it get that, but she could get her equivalency that way. Or, you could home school her the last two years.”“How am I going to have time for that, and how is she going to have time for that if she’s going to college?”“You don’t have to do a thing. You register with one of the home-schooling associations. Kayla takes the college equivalent classes she needs to graduate from high school and gets dual credit. She. ‘Eighteen?’ he said again, hoping he’d misheard her the first time, desperately wishing she was twenty-two. ‘Uh huh, eighteen,’ she answered, flashing her eyes as she gave him a mischievous grin. ‘And I’ve got cake. So, what do you say?’ Craig took a deep breath, nineteen had been trouble, he didn’t even want to think about eighteen. But he couldn’t help himself as he reached into the bag, pulled the unopened box of chocolates out and held it toward her. ‘I say…happy birthday!’ * * * Beth. She had her brown hair pulled back into a tight pony tail, making her long, thin face with its dark brown eyes, hawkish nose and thin lips seem even more severe than usual. She was dressed in long, flowing green robes – traditional dress for a mage. Arlade had made sure to bring a Red Guard uniform – a kino – for her to wear; attire was perception and perception was very important in the current endeavor. It was imperative Wenland know the Red Guard had kidnapped the princess – and mages were.