“Pants, too.”“So much for mystery,” I laughed.She stood up in front of me. Giggled. “Okay. Together. Pants down. On three. One. Two ... Thre....”When I stood up it occurred to me that this was the first time I’d seen her legs. Always in jeans.I did a quick scan, appreciating. Long, finely shaped. Those crazy socks. Hip-hugger panties. And a bra.And me in my grey briefs.“You didn’t go ‘yuck!”“No man in his right mind would go ‘yuck’, princess. You’re beautiful.”“Me?!?” she squeaked,. No one has ever desired to go there as the spells prevent anyone from ever thinking about it. There’s one small exit off the freeway and we’re in the valley beyond the hillsides, but no one is ever curious enough to take the exit. We pay our taxes, we vote, but no is ever the least bit concerned about us. We report in to the school system, but no one has ever actually watched our children in school, they just accept that all is well in New Hope, and then they forget we’re even there. We used to. I pitied the poor neighbours that night, but they were a young couple and I’m sure they would understand. Sometimes there are moments in life when silence is not an option.Jess finally slowed down and withdrew and came and lay on the bed next to me. We kissed with a warmth I hadn’t felt for ages. I was proud of what she had done, taking the initiative and starting to heal some wounds. The way she had grabbed the moment at the pub and rescued a broken girl and had started to put her back. Are you getting ready to leave for the university?”“Yes. We just finished packing Amos,” Sally answered glancing back at her car with pride.“Good luck at school.”“I’d like to thank you for your recommendation. I’m sure that it helped me get into the engineering program.”“We were only too happy to help,” Sherry said.Alex said, “I think you’ll enjoy the program there. It’s one of the best in the country.”“I’m looking forward to it,” Sally said. “I hope that I’m smart enough.”“You’ll do fine,”.