There was comfort, though, in there being no capacity for misunderstanding, or judgement, or competition for attention.This intimacy with Jane was too...delicious to leave by choice. He would usually fall asleep as he fed, with Pamela stroking his hair, and making little cooing sounds, as if he were a babyToday, the connection was broken when Pamela fell asleep first.Detaching, Penn lay beside her on the bed. He felt a sense of wonder for everything that his association with five very special. My mother commiserated with her about the fact her estranged husband didn't even have the common decency to show up and offer his condolences. They both got into a long conversation about what a prick he was and he deserved the slutty airline hostess that was now filling the other side of his bed. Apparently, she was equally as bad because she had crossed the husband-stealing line and had the effrontery to think she deserved to be the new wife as soon as the divorce was final. As bad as the. Simon's firstthing in the morning. Tell Grace I love her and that everything is goingto be fine. Okay?" Okay," she answered. "Okay. You take care little brother. Mom and Iare so happy for you and we're looking forward to the wedding. Drivecarefully," she added."I will," I assured her. "Goodbye. And Rhonda?" Yes?" Thank you." Any time Dan. Any time."I hung up the phone from talking to Rhonda and suddenly felt freer thanI'd felt in a long time. Rhonda had always had a special way to. I decided to get the gas first. I pulled the station wagon into the Shell station and walked around to the pump. I wasn’t paying attention to anyone but was focused on putting gas in the car. Just as I pulled the nozzle from the pump I heard “Hey you.” I looked in the direction where the voice had come from and saw Dan standing only a few feet from me as he put gas in his van.“How are you?” he asked. “Good and you?” I asked. Dan didn’t answer but nodded his head then smiled. “So did your ass.