You know about Ruthie's fetish and this was a way to satisfy both your husband and your niece. How am I doing so far?"My answer came when Ruthie came ...round and put her arms around me. "Ralph, does this spoil your love for me. I'll die if it has." No it hasn't. I just want you to be honest with me."June's face was bright red. She knew that she had abused my hospitality and jeopardized her niece's happiness. "What can I do to make it up to you? I'm so sorry, really I am." I think you should be. "Ken just shook his head and said, "Ali, I think I just heard you give my wife a $60,000-a-year raise. Did I?" Ali just grinned and nodded. "Why?" he asked."But Ken, it's so simple," Ali replied. "There's not a law firm around that can run a full-bore research operation for less than $180,000 a year. Since we're basically pretty cheap, we thought that giving Kathy about one-third of what she's worth would be about right. What's your problem?" she asked with her eyes wide.Ken just shook his head. .." Bullshit," she cut me off. She reached over and turned my face to look at hers. "What I said last night, I meant. And I know you're trying to do the right thing right now. I get that. But ask yourself this: when do I get to make a decision about my love life? If not today, when I'm past my eighteenth birthday, then when? Nineteen? Twenty-three? I think I was mature and self-aware at fifteen, personally, but OK. A hundred and fifty years ago I'd have chosen a husband by now, or had one. Shanna walked down the market street with Anelie, shopping basket in hand. The day was cool, the noon sun doing little to provide relief. Nor was her light jacket doing much to keep her warm. She needed something for winter. Something thick, comfortable. There would be military issue winter clothing, naturally, but she didn't want to just wear that. She was more than just a soldier."Why are they staring?" Anelie asked, face scowling at a woman behind a vegetable stand. The scowl was more cute.