I made her laugh a lot and she was soon touching my arm as she laughed and giving plenty of eye contact. Knowing what I knew about her already I was ...airly confident I could bed this lovely lady. Andy got himself a phone call from a mate and said he needed to go and would be home late. By this time his mum was sufficiently absorbed with me to not be concerned and he disappeared off and she and I continued chatting. I got nice and close to her and she rested her hand on my thigh. Things were. I’m seeing no flushes and little chance of a decent straight so I’m planning on betting. But just before it gets to me, you go all-in. You have to be crazy going for a straight with that kind of cash. I call, as do four of the other remaining five. Turn card… seven of diamonds. Still no straight and damn sure no flush. The guy to my left goes all-in. Bam! Folds all around the table, and waiting on me. This guy has more than me so I’d have to go all-in… And I couldn’t resist… I added my last. “By which you mean, you want to know how I’m going to mess things up next?”“‘Twould be nice to know if you had plans, yes,” she drawled wryly. “This world is poised—”“Upon the precipice of change, or something; yes, yes I know. Care to be a bit more specific? Am I supposed to ‘leap into the abyss’ as well?”She examined me critically for a moment, and I resisted the urge to fidget or look away. “Could it be fate? Or perhaps...” She muttered to herself, looking off to one side as though at. The short walk seemed like miles to me, taking an eternity to traverse.My face was on fire with a combination of emotions as I approachedGrace waiting for me at the other end of the aisle. When we finallyreached the front, my mother took my hand and placed it into Grace'soutreached palm, and then stood back, next to Mrs. Andrews - two proudmothers giving their children away at their wedding.The music stopped and, other than the roar of the ocean in thedistance, the guests were silent. .