"Hollis opened the box and removed a white gold band with a solitary diamond. He took her hand and held it above her first knuckle. He looked into her...eyes. "Annie Sheffield -- will you marry me?"Her eyes filled. "In heartbeat, Hollis. In a heartbeat." He slid the ring onto her finger."It's a beautiful ring," she said. "What will I tell them at school?" Tell them you're engaged. We'll set a date after you graduate."She squeezed his hand and regarded it. "Hollis -- where's your wedding band?". After diner, I helped Mom clear the table and then sat in the living room with the entire family watching several shows and the evening news. "Well, if you don't mind I'm going to get ready for bed, I'm still on East Coast time."After a quick trip to the bathroom, I kissed my mother goodnight and went up to my room. About five minutes later I heard the squeak of the stair and, knowing someone was about to knock on my door, climbed into bed and under the covers."Bill, can I come in?" my sister. I was raising my hands, squeaking a "please," when the second slap backhanded me into a heap. A powerful hand gripped my hair and dragged me caveman style across a smooth, cool floor. After a fiery moment in which my scalp burned from the relentless pulling, the pain was replaced by shock, as I was thrown into a cold shower."Don't you go startin in with that cryin now!" the unfamilar voice was coming from a woman, standing just outside the shower. She seemed enormous - taller than me, with her. I slid the bandage beyond the ball of her foot, up her sole and metatarsal, slowing as I reached the base of her heel. I took my left hand off the dressing and placed it under her achilles tendon to lift her foot a couple of inches. I rolled my right hand around the dressing and lifted pulling it further up until Zoe winced a little. “Okay?” “Hmmm; yeah”. That sounded a little pleasant. I was trying not to think of her commando confession. “You have a very gentle touch. I’m enjoying it”. I.