When I hear him climbing the stairs, I move to slip behind the door. He swings the door open, an when he closes it, I pounce him from behind with a gi...gle. I wrap my legs around his middle, and whisper low in his ear, “Surprise!” I let out a soft moan. Breathing in deep, I inhale his scent. God, he smells fucking good! Just so Gavin! “Ah, you bollock! Scared the shite out of me!” He giggles. “Are you surprised to see me? I’ve missed you. I know it’s been just a few days, but I need you.” I slip. As flawed as we all are. Some more flawed than others." I spared a glance at Conrad without being obvious about it. "In spite of her own flaws, she loved me in spite of my flaws. She loved me, and I love her, still. Maybe that seems a little off topic from all the grand stories here this morning, but it's what's important to me. Despite our personal failures, we could love one another in our own ways. I'll miss you, Mom."Wiping my face, I resumed my seat. Tony slid an arm around me and held me. “Huh? What does that mean?” Gary asked impatiently.“Well, Marc said that for 72 hours, I would be ‘your date’. He would respect the fact that this visit is for you and me to enjoy each other, and to resolve any remaining issues, or curiosities, we have. As such, the guest suite belongs to us. We will not be disturbed in any way in the guest suite.”“I see. What about the rest of the house? What are the rules there?”“Gary, you need to understand, Marc really wants us to be comfortable, and we are. I cried when you told us that your Dad raped both you and yoursister.When she tried to protect you from him, you hit him with a lamp, crackinghis skull a bit but not killing him. After he got out of the hospital,he took his stuff from the house and abandoned you. Lynn went to livewith an aunt, but you were put in foster care. It was traumatic. Youmissed your sister so much you started wearing your foster mom's clotheswhen she wasn't at home. You fantasized you were her. Eventually.