Karlie sipped Shiraz to cover up her grin as Sam looked back at us both. "You two clean up. I'm going to put my feet up," Sam said, kicking off her s...ndals and curling up on the couch. Her eyes closed and I could see her starting to relax. In 14 months together I can't count the times I've watched her go to sleep, so I knew she was about done for the night. I stood up and grabbed Sam 's plate and mine, heading to the kitchen. I was hoping Karlie would stay there, but she grabbed her plate and. It’s been a while since any of us has played ‘silly-bugger’. This will be fun.”“Say’s you!” Dunbar spat out in disgust. “I say we call in an air strike. That Huey had a weapons pod on it. I’m sure it would make Bob’s day to get some of his stores returned to him, even if they’re returned the hard way.”I just smiled and shook my head no.“Dunbar, Burton, and I are going in,” I told everyone in common. “Sygor, you’re in charge here. Don’t go into the forest unless you really have to and avoid the. . amorous lass.”They followed me in and she closed the gate and turned, “she is pure.”I smiled, “only because you protect her and chase off all the men that would bed her.”I turned and moved to the ancient oak and put my hand on it, “good day ancient one. May you stay strong and never fade.”The wizard whispered and Pam laughed and gestured, “be welcome in my grove.”I turned away from the tree just as a wild looking teenage girl crashed into me, “JAS!”I grinned and spun to keep from falling,. " Carol shook her head in disbelief, watching the older woman break into a group of my in-law's friends, smiling and laughing with them before they nervously broke away.Dianne, Carol's mother, my mother-in-law, walked over to where my wife and I were sitting. Hurt was written across her face as she approached us, eyes beginning to water with tears."Oh, mom," Carol said sadly. I stood up and offered the older woman my chair. Dianne shook her head, motioning for me to sit back down."I can't stay.