Julie felt like she'd stumbled through the looking glass and found heaven. The way that Raul and Barbara treated their kids was a revelation. She had ...o idea that a parent could be anything other than an inflictor or pain or humiliation. She basked in their attention and instinctive nurturing when she was in their homes.They in turn were all charmed by her seeming child-like innocence and gratitude for any kindness. They tried to help her improve the horrible self image inflicted on her by. "I said, "Well, it looks like a good time to get out a map."Jane had a few including an atlas. We marked the route. It would be about seven hundred miles, two days driving without problems. We decided to take three days for the trip by packing in the morning and leaving just after lunch tomorrow. I wanted to arrive in the daytime and we were not in a hurry. We talked the rest of the night about what we would pack, what we would need when we arrived and what we needed to watch for on the trip.We. " You want a glass, Mom?" he called, paying not the slightestattention to her very mild complaint."That would be nice," she replied.She thought of Jay, realizing he was growing up. When her husbandhaddrawn away from her, she had turned her affection toward her son, andJay accepted her hugs and caresses willingly.As they drifted down the river that morning, they had passed asmaller houseboat, with three girls, all in very skimpy bikinis. Jayhad stared at them with glowing eyes. Shellie had. “You’re kidding?” I said somewhat amazed and getting a shake of the head in return.“He does, though at the moment he’s busy trying to sort out the mess my brothers and older sister are in since their return from fighting for Oonagh,” Serice replied.“Talshish told me what they said. I rather doubt Verenestra or William will be terribly forgiving,” I commented with a shrug.“Nor I, but I doubt she’ll have them killed out of hand as my father fears,” Serice chuckled. “But it keeps him occupied and.