I gave my new cell number to Mr. Booker then warned him I was riding a motorcycle, so wouldn't be able to answer if he called while I was on the way i...."You'll probably want to use the City parking garage on First & B street. Our offices are right across the street from it on First." Sounds good, see you soon."The GPS, and it still struck me as odd that Cooper had this expensive piece of equipment, but no cell phone, told me that all I had to do was follow 4th street all the way into town until. His hands shook as he fished the sandal out of the box and the whispery tissue paper. “Red? Hmmph, well…let me try them on for size.” She straightened her left leg and raised it straight out expectantly.What? Was he supposed to put the sandal on over the boot?“Unzip me!” she commanded.The scent leather came to his nose and he leaned closer to the boot. “Yes, maam,” he croaked. He reached hesitantly for the top of the boot, between her thighs. He touched the strip of exposed skin and found it. Carolstood and placed the two empty mugs in the sink and left to getdressed. She had a long list of patients waiting for her.Phil moped around the kitchen until his wife was gone. He retrievedhis phone from his purse and called Mike wanting to know if he couldcome over. Mike agreed, saying he would make the time for his favoritedaughter.@ @ @ @It took Phyllis the better part of an hour to look presentable. Hisbest efforts couldn't hide the bloodshot eyes and bags under them.He found Mike. He started to speak, but I cut him off, feeling too close to tears to let him. "Please, Riley. Whatever you want to say, just don't." My voice was shaking with my inability to keep my breath steady. "Not right now."They were there, tears, perch within my eyes, waiting to escape. "Why do you look so sad, shouldn't you be ha..." the end of his sentence, likely somewhat snippity and painful, was left unsaid, and I was grateful for it."I wasn't r-" My voice broke, and the pain on Riley's face was.