After all he was used to casual relationships but this was so different. She was becoming a friend, a confidant. Was this what love felt like? Peter t...ought he knew about love, but did he? Lust, yes. He’d had some long term girl friends but he had to acknowledge that he had kept them at arms length and wasn’t too shattered when they had split up with him. Split with him? Yup. They had wanted more of a commitment that he wasn’t prepared to give. He was always clear that he wasn’t the commitment. She was increasingly impressed with this family. When luncheon was announced, they went into the dining room and were seated. In spite of his diminutive size, little Ronnie sat in a booster seat at the table. He waited for the others and ate as neatly as a small child possibly could. Emily watched for a few moments, then picked him up and sat him on her lap. She helped him with the rest of his meal.When they were nearly finished, she turned to Mary who was sitting at her right and asked, "Mary. But it was something that she needed when there were no other opportunities present. Meanwhile, our esteemed principal had sent young Mr. Eugene home until further notice, let the nerd explain THAT to his parents. Currently there were more pressing issues, such as how to approach Miss Praved and force her into becoming his obedient slave. Surely the age old do as I say or lose your job would work but that didn’t seem a compelling enough argument. Especially with no evidence to support a claim. The girl watched him and spoke to him calmly; directing his route in soft words, her eyes never leaving him; grey pools of support and comfort.It took perhaps a few minutes but it felt like an eternity to Alex. But he did come back from the edge and at last he was safe among solid rock, blessing its security and firmness. He crouched on hands and knees his chest heaving, coming back from the edge in his mind and knowing just how close he had come to death. He looked up and wiped the.