"When you died when that monster ruptured your body, it nearly killed me when your bead turned white hot and left a molten pool in my granite desktop....Tamalains eyes snapped open when she related the last, "How do you know about that Winter. I haven't even told my husband all the details of that event yet, how could you know?" She was sitting upright now and she stared into Winters eyes. Winter felt a shiver of fear run down her spine as Tamalains eyes were now showing a faint green glow and. "But,... truth, now,... wasn't it?"Good? I paused for a time. "Yes, yes, George, my old friend,... it was... good." Only good?" he said, the swagger coming back to his voice."Don't push me." I joined his laughter."Just wanted to make sure you were good. Got to get on my plane now. It was... wonderful, Jackie, wonderful. I hope, when I come back... ?" the question hung in the air."Have a good flight, George, " I said. "We'll talk. OK?" OK, Jackie, OK. You're special!"As I hung up I wondered. " That sucks," he replied. "Wait - does she hate me or you?" She hates Nicole," I replied."I'll steer clear of her then," he replied. "If I only knew what shelooked like." Don't worry about it, Vic. I won a hula hoop contest." You did? Where did you find a hula hoop contest?" At the west quad. I was trying to rush home to you and somehow walkedinto a hula hoop contest." And you won?" Yes. People cheered for, "Nick from Marketing." He smiled. "Good job, Nick from Marketing"We both laughed."How. ‘I’m a wine buyer for a retail liquor chain and this is my favourite part of the world.’ ‘I don’t know that I could face wine today.’ ‘Nonsense! We’re not here to get pissed, we are going to taste some of the best wines in the world and you are going to swirl and spit, not guzzle.’ ‘If you say so.’ I could feel my stomach about to rebel. ‘Down this road.’ Another left turn and about a kilometre later she pointed to a drive entrance leading to a large red brick building with an equally large.