The bar had a couple of high-backed, swiveling stools situated there. It had been Donnie's habit for years to eat breakfast at the counter.Helen took ...he last bite of her breakfast. She scooted her chair sideways so that she could hold the newspaper in its properly unfolded position. Movement caught her eye and she looked up to see Donnie practically facing her as he sipped at his coffee. The sports page was lying on the counter top, but he wasn't reading it. He sat in a slouch, slowly. Very commendable, Alani, keep up the good work!" he said, giving her appealing body and plump cleavage one more brief glance before finally noticing the folder in her manicured fingers."Thank you, Sir. Now, about these figures..."Alani's marked improvement only accelerated throughout the rest of the week. Where she had previously struggled to keep all of her tasks straight, it now seemed to Jack that they had somehow become second nature to her. All of Alani's responsibilities were handled. She helps me with the girls,but when they're away at school she does a lot of other things instead.Now, I've asked her to take care of you, make sure you're bathed andproperly dressed each day, that sort of thing. I just know you're bothgoing to get on like a house on fire," she smiled."Like a house on fire," Tessa agreed, licking her lips."Well I'll leave you two to get re-acquainted. Then perhaps you can gethim washed and freshen him up with some nice smelly stuff, Tessa. He'sstill quite. ‘I’m sorry I know I should not have said that, it’s just I was afraid you’d die and you would never have known my feelings.’ I was far too embarrassed to look him in the eye but he took my chin and raised it to meet his gaze. ‘Judy I don’t know what to say, no one has ever said that to me, not even my parents. I could tell you had feelings for me but I had no idea there were so strong.’ I went to visit him every day and then one day soon after his surgery he asked me to call him Stone and that.