I pinged the remote and opened the tailgate to put Francis’ two suitcases in the back. Like the well-mannered gentleman he was, Francis moved to sit...in the back and closed the door behind himself. As I closed the tailgate Sue looked at me. “Honey, Are you okay if I sit in the back with Francis?”I could see her concerned look. She’d obviously picked up on the look on my face, and how my fears had spiked as I’d watched their closeness and emotional connection at the airport. I was relieved she. Ze waren inmiddels bij de kassa aangekomen. Die jongen bij wie Eva altijd sigaretten kon kopen, zat er vandaag jammer genoeg niet. Ze keek Merel, die zelf een pakje kocht, even aan en schraapte toen al haar moed bij elkaar en vroeg: “Wil je voor mij ook een pakje kopen? Ik ben nog te jong, weet je…”. Zonder aarzelen kocht Merel nog een pakje en stopte dat in haar boodschappentas. Samen liepen ze naar buiten.“Geen sigaretten?”, zei Merel, “te jong, tsjeetje, hoe oud ben je dan als ik vragen. But you have naturalassets. Mine are all artificial and can be removed." Are you sure about that? I may forget where I put that solvent." Then I guess you?ll be employing a new receptionist in your salon tillthese forms fall off." Well, if the receptionist works out, we might have to stop buying thatsolvent," Monica replied instantly. "I might like to see myreceptionist getting ready every day with elaborate makeup, regularperms, tight skirts and high heels. Might even start to get some. No one will know you. What do I need to do get you drunk and laid for you to lighten up?”I smiled. She was right. I’d come this far so what the fuck. And just like that, we were in her kitchen. We finished a beer, did a shot of tequila, and were out the door. It was eight o’clock and the night was young.We killed a little time driving around town before arriving at the house party around nine o’clock. It was still “early” but there were plenty of people there. While Missy wanted to steer most.