I couldn’t blame her for ignoring her doctor’s advice in the face of overwhelming mortality. I had spent a year as a self-pitying alcoholic, after...all. ‘When is your flight leaving?’ ‘Six-thirty tomorrow morning.’ She gave a wan smile. ‘Call me when you land.’ * * * * Friends and therapists had been telling me for more than a year I needed to get away. ‘You need a fresh start,’ they told me. ‘You gotta get back out to the world of the living.’ Pithy words, I had thought, but the idea grew and. “For years!” she replied.Mark went on to admit that some of his friends had varied tastes and they came to a financial arrangement between his friends and Jilly and she was more than compensated for her time and experience.“Could we join an event?” Mandy asked.“You are already on the list” Mark replied, “I`ll send you a text or email next event we have Mandy and you can invite Daddy”.Mark turned the showers on and it was instantly hot and steamy and we all took turns of washing each other and I. " Lisa quickly added that I was not going tobe working and would be free. Dale looked at me wide eyed and squeezedmy hand as we set up another date and walked home. We said our goodbyes at the door and Dale told me he would be by forlunch every day this week. Lisa shut the door and burst out laughing atme and my situation. "I can't believe how good you're getting dear." He couldn't keep his eyes off of you and the way you were showing offyour legs to him." It was just an act, that's all it was. "I breathed a sigh of relief.She pointed to the clock on the wall. "In a couple of hours they'll let us go in again." She sat in a chair, motioning for me to sit beside her. Gazed into my eyes."Cindy," she said, "That's a GOOD man in there." I know, Mom," I said."No, you DON'T know. That's a GOOD man." She heaved a breath. "When I got here, they wouldn't tell me anything. I'm not related, you know. I told 'em I was damned sure related, I was his fiancée."I gasped. Glanced at Dan. Didn't need.