But he took away that temptation by taking the initiative himself. He leaned in, closed the distance between them, and gently placed a kiss on her lip..., silently asking for permission. As he withdrew, she looked in his eyes, and she recollected all the times he’d been there for her. Always treating her with utmost respect. Always available to talk to, even though he never opened up much despite her persistence. Always managing to make her smile with his deadpan wit. She smiled at that memory as. “It’s not the same,” he said.“Yes it is!” I exclaimed, pausing to take a deep breath. “I don’t want you to go.”“Neither does Lexi,” he said, “But I just feel like it’s something I have to do.”I raised my voice, “But it’s not! It’s what dad wants for you. I wouldn’t be able to handle it here without you, and I can’t even think about you being killed…”There was a long silence between us. Only the sounds of waves crashing and trees flowing in the wind could be heard. Our eyes never met during the. I was, more than sure that I was going to get my reward in a matter of weeks. I was more than happy now. My bathing sessions with him continued unabated and at night now I was sleeping with him on the pretext on my teaching.My husband used to be away most of the time for one or other religious function and I had good enough time free with my son. There were only two of us in that huge house which had 10 rooms and it had a very tastefully decorated garden. The garden had, in fact, many hibiscus. . And if you hadn't gone to school in Jacksonville, we wouldn't have gotten with Katie and Melinda."She took a deep breath."A long time ago, I used to hate her." There was a dark tone in her voice. As if she were scared to admit the way she felt. "It was before I met her. I was so jealous that she got you first. Sometimes I used to think that it should have been me in your arms, not her." Why didn't you say anything?" I asked after a moment."Because it wasn't my place to. I left you, not the.