* * * CHAPTER 1 Louie King took Dave Duncan into the drab kitchen of his expensive home. ‘This is it, I want it remodeled for a totally modern look... This kitchen is, I believe, 36 years old. We purchased the property three months ago. How much?’ ‘Excuse me?’ ‘How much to modernize it so it is great to work in and looks great to people when they enter it?’ Dave scratched his nuts thinking this guy was open to extortion. ‘Forty-seven thousand dollars plus the cost of new appliances.’ Louie. ”He let Henry go screaming at him “No. He fucking pushed her. Forced her!”Cindy’s Mom screamed back “Dammit Mike. No he didn’t.”“Right! And she just ends up pregnant!” pointing to Cindy.“Things happen!”He looked at her like she had two heads, “Things happen?!? What the fuck does that mean. Things happen? Shit!”He turned back to Henry “I want you OUT of my house and I never want to see you here again!”Henry looked him in the eye and nodded. He turned to Cindy, “Love you”As Cindy replied back. ”“But gosh,” I said looking into her deep blue eyes. “What on earth are we to do while we wait?”She leaned forward a little, her eyes narrowing. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something...”I leaned into her and narrowed my gaze, bringing my lips within an inch of hers, daring her to kiss me.I wasn’t disappointed. She closed the distance, letting her lips press against mine, closing her eyes fully. She had such soft, bee-stung lips pressed softly against mine. I let a slight moan escape me and. Really, they did. Everyone knew Nick and Stevie got together, but nobody knew where and when.For his birthday, there was the usual family event, a backyard barbecue with dad's famous ribs, mum's salads, a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages and the usual family guests - mum's sister Elizabeth, her husband Dick and daughter Becky, all as square as a suburban home; her other sister Rose and her perennial boyfriend Pete, he of the famous handlebar mustache and the too-tight sweaters; dad's.