. here I am.”“Did daddy hit you?” she asked looking at my face.It was tempted to say yes and get some sympathy out of this, but I didn’t bothe....“We haven’t gotten along very well since you guys left,” I remarked.“You put up with him for over two years?”“Yeah!”“Well, you are welcome here for as long as you need. We have an extra bedroom, just move in!”“I don’t want your pity, I could pay you something maybe some kind of rent?”“If that’s what you want, then go ahead,” Susan said.“Thanks,” I said. She shook her head to clear it. It didn't matter anymore. Whatever sayingit was it was obviously pointless and trivial - the ramblings of a mereservant and nothing more. Inconsequential.What mattered was this wonderful man before her. What mattered was thediamond engagement ring he was offering her."I love you Richard," she found herself saying. "I think I fell in lovewith you on that first night as you took me dancing. And yes. I willspend the rest of my life with you. I'll live here in London. The reasons were simple enough: he had gone to high school with many of those in the banking and real estate sectors of New Hanover County, and was more than willing to share his new found wealth with them. The fact that one of the State Senators was his uncle didn't hurt either. The fact that he was bi-sexual, with a slight preference for men, was relatively unknown except for those he actually participated with.The phone rang for the sixth time before Janet groggily reached out to grasp the. “I should go check and see if Rick is still breathing”, “I will come with you just to make sure you don’t crash on us as we are just getting this party going” I can hear them moving so I slowly step back and slide back down the hallway; I close the door and slide back into the bed pretending to be asleep. No sooner had I hit the bed and barely had time to ditch my pants as I realized that I was naked when I awoke. I sprawl out and get the sheet over me when I heard them outside the door again.