"What is it?"I lower my cup a bit, cradling it before me like a safety blanket. I close my eyes."Baby steps Sebastian. Let me show you...saying it is ...oo..." I don't have the words.Right away he's the concerned, comforting boyfriend. "Hey, no problem babe. I understand it took a lot of courage to even talk about it. I'd be happy to do anything you need me to. I love you."I sigh in relief. "Thanks."Sebastian finally sits down on his stool. As he stirs in some sugar into his cup, he asks "So. ‘You could take that Keith fellow . . . we’d pay for it of course. Or maybe a couple of friends, if you promised to keep expenses within reason.’ ‘Dad, I told you, it’s not just about money.’ ‘I know,’ he said. ‘But you said you needed to find your own way. How can you do that if you don’t see what’s out there?’ Pat’s eyes shot open. ‘Dad . . . that made . . . sense!’ ‘You don’t have to sound SO surprised.’ Pat smiled, and it lightened her parents’ spirits. ‘Let me think about it and ask Keith. What time? You weren’t thinking of having the dog participate, were you? ““In the morning, around 9, if that’s not too early for you. I did tell Gayle that Shep may very well be involved. I even hinted that we might also have him mount her. ““You certainly have a dirty mind, my dear,” Roger said jokingly.“You bring that out in me. I figure we have about three weeks to go before I’m safe. ““I can’t wait.”“After the shoot is finished, what do you think about us going to our secret spot? We can. Since there was no town hall, each of the council members hosted meetings in their house or had the option of renting a room at the inn, out of their own pocket of course. This time it had been the blacksmith’s turn to host and Perra felt like she was covered in a layer of sweat, soot, and steel. She briefly wondered if Bonn would be up for a ride out to Ikuno’s to use her fancy bathhouse.“It’s not like I suggested anything amazing. With harvest time on the horizon, it just seemed to make sense.