She turned to Alice, "So you advised Matt and the others on various parts of their lives?"Alice smiled. I think she knew where the discussion was goin.... "Yes, on and off, but the tempo picked up recently."Sheila dove deeper, "About their dating Monica, Zoey, and me?" There it was. The men each cringed inside but tried to look cool on the outside.Alice nodded, "These three guys are infatuated with you three. I happen to think it's sterling that they feel that way, and that you are responding in. Let it out. You are so much stronger than most of the people I know, certainly stronger than me. But even your strength must have a rest, from time to time. Don't worry, my boy ... you are needed."As she held him, the smell of his cigarettes wafting up to her nose, she was once again reminded that in spite of the old soul that looked out at her through eyes that had seen far too much far too early in life, he was still just a boy ... and a badly damaged boy at that. She held him, caressed him,. I left behind enough of a past that there are people who would like to do bad things to me. Have you noticed anybody new hanging around?" No. I can't say as I have." Well, I'll try to let you know if they show up. I may have to leave the area suddenly." Well, if you can point them out to me, I could have one of the boys have a talk with them." They're not very good listeners, Frank." My boys can be very persuasive. I believe they can permanently persuade these fellows you're worried about to. "What do you say, Rich? Do we let her in on it?" said her dad. He looked toward Rich, and the two of them exchanged a knowing glance."Now's as good a time as ever," said Rich. He spoke like the college boys Amanda knew from USM. Pretending he wasn't that interested in letting her in on the secret, even though she knew that with the college boys it was all an act. But with Rich she wasn't so sure. He was still leaning against his Porsche. You only saw cars like that in the summer, and even then,.