M., and I could hardly keep my eyes open.While I went to the desk to register, Kate walked around the lobby. She got a newspaper out of a machine by t...e door, folding it under her arm and was waiting for me to finish at the desk. An old black man was sweeping the floor, I suppose ending his night's work. He stopped and stood staring at Kate. "Oh my! If it isn't Miss Katie," I heard him say to Kate. "I saw you down to meeting just last week. I never expected to see you in this place. Is. ” Walking past both of them, as if they did not exist.“That’s right, just run away like you always do. Coward!” Mario called out.In the distance, I detected my aunt, Androulla at my mother’s grave plot. She was watering the flowers with the hose pipe, while my uncle Sotiris was removing any excess weeds that had grown. Getting nearer, my uncle noticed me first. Looking up towards my aunt, he gestured towards me with his eyes. I was not more than two meters away from my aunt when she turned to. At least she had started a bit of the latter, which I found I needed, since Gerard was just keeping his distance. I missed him as a friend and colleague and now I needed a father-figure too.Vanessa was home for her lunch-break, so we went down to the kitchen together to make and eat some sandwiches. It was strange, but very nice, to be able to chat about personal things with a fellow-female. She agreed to come out for a walk with me in the evening, provided I wore a hat - she had a nice ski-cap. ‘And every time you call us, it’s Cherie this and Cherie that and you sound batty about her. Time isn’t a factor Tommy and I bet she loves you too, if you would open your eyes enough to see it.’ His cousin piped up. ‘You’re very lovable, when you’re not being a total ponce. Don’t be daft, GO for it!’ He sighed. ‘You’re right.’ His Mum came back on the line. ‘You’re going to ask her?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘To marry you?’ Thomas felt his entire body and soul come alive when he answered again ‘Yes.’ He hung up.