With nowhere to retreat this time, and suddenly having no desire to do so, Sam took the step he had been rehearsing incessantly in his mind in an infi...ite variety of ways over the past week. Heart in his throat he stammered out. ‘Can I help with these?’ ‘That would be wonderful’ she answered, genuinely thankful. He took from her the two bags that she was holding and bent down to try to pick up the other two. ‘No, please.’ she said quickly. ‘I can get these two. I live just down the hall.’ ‘I. When she hung up, she smiled wryly at Hawk. "It's you and me, kid, together in the same boat. My boss just got back into town and told me to get lost and stay that way until the police had a better handle on things. It looks like we both have been put out to pasture." Actually, in your case, that's a good idea," Hawk said, "and at least he may let you go back to work when you're done."When we were finished eating, I drove through some back roads, under the guidance of Hawk. I had only a vague. The flowering trees and shrubs formed a brilliant backdrop of color as the division was formed up on the parade ground. A presentation had been made to Franklin on the occasion of his retirement. Sam Adams had flown down from Washington and Cathy, looking beautiful in her pregnancy, was with him. The troops were standing at Parade Rest in front of the reviewing stand.Adams stood in front of the microphone and said, “Ladies and gentlemen of the 101st Airborne. I have good news and bad news. I was standing outside the car while Paul was inside with the keys in the ignition. It was a very long two minutes. Paul’s brother and sister came out to talk to us. I persuaded Paul to come out of the car to talk to them.”Paul said, “I was mad but not at them. So we talked. They asked Melissa questions about college and her grades and major. They were doing what the three of us had done at various times when our parents were arguing. They got out of the house. It was at least ten minutes later.