We didn’t do anything. We didn’t! I swear! Shaun, look at me — I swear it!’ Shaun looked at her, and saw the truth in her eyes, the desperate ...onesty — she’d done nothing with Peter, he knew it now, and he took relief in it, and she was relieved like never before as she saw him accept her word. ‘I’m sorry, Shaun,’ she told him, as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She was sorry to have disappointed him, but she was sorrier to have lied to him — she wanted him to know how she really felt, she. She would stay back at the resort, sit in her cute little outfits and basically drink warm winter refreshments all day. On this particular holiday, however she had decided at thirty years old, it was time to join in on the fun. I took her to the local specialty store, Peter Glenn Ski & Sports, at the Galleria near where we live. We purchased her some terrific Rossignol skis and boots along with all of the accessories. She would look like a pro at least. Though Atlanta is not a snow mecca, we do. “Your friend Dima did a wonderful thing!”“And my friend in the Duma, as well. And his daughter who is a diplomat. They made it all happen, and got funding from industrialists who want to see good relations between the US and Russia.”“Do you travel a lot, Mr. Adams?” Natalie asked, choosing to use a formal address.“I do, mostly for work, but my trips to Russia were vacations.”“Where have you been?”“All over, really - England, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany - both East and West, Austria,. “So, you got a plan?” He asked softly.“You got any more gum?” I replied.I chewed on the wad of gum nervously as I pushed my way through the crowd, looking for Steve. Every once in a while I’d look over my shoulder to see Aaron slowly following a safe distance behind me.Finally, I spied Steve in the corner, chatting with an attractive young woman. I caught his gaze and gave him a head nod towards the hallway. Steve nodded and walked that direction.“So are you ready to party?” Steve asked as we.