She headed back down the hall, to her room. She walked past Atelan, who was still moping on the sofa, without a sound. She got dressed for her dinner....s she walked out of her room, Atelan let out a shriek.Lissa was wearing a dress that was a collection of a dozen brown inch and a half wide canvas strips hanging from a collar around her neck. The strips went down to mid-thigh. Her only other cover was a narrow brown belt that held one strip in place over her navel. The others swayed as she. I about ten minutes I felt better and went back inside. I got a fresh drink and went back to that same table. Those folks where still setting there. I said hey again and sat down. The wife of the couple asked me if everything was OK ? I said yeah why. She said well first of all we just saw your wife and another guy going out that door back there then you show up pale as a ghost. I said everything is nice trust me. I know she didn't buy it but she let it go. In a few minutes her husband said. "You wouldn't believe some of the stories I heard today," said Jake. "You were dead, Jilly was on life support, Martians had landed. You name it, I heard it today." Was Molly at school? Surely she could have straightened everybody out." Shirley could have straightened it out? Who's Shirley?" I scowled at him, and Kayla stuck her tongue out at her brother. "Actually, Molly was there, but it's much more exciting to spread rumors about what might have happened than actually learn the truth.. "There's no better Mom anywhere," I assured her.She stood a little straighter and gently broke contact.As she walked out of the bathroom she said, "I'll wait for you in your room."I brushed my hair while I waited for the nail polish to dry; I was having it done at a salon the following afternoon. Evan knew the color of the dress so the flowers would match, and we'd be going in my car. I think I finally understood why my mother gave me such freedom, way more than other kids my age.I wrapped a.