My face must have looked like a glazed donut by this point.The girls parted to let me through. Only Addison followed. She helped me clean up; my face ...otally needed a thorough cleaning. Too bad Sylvia wasn’t here for that.While we were showering I heard the others mention Emily’s name. They were talking about her and about Michele. I couldn’t hear all of it and I didn’t want Addison to think I was eavesdropping so I played it cool but heard bits and pieces. I did get the gist of it: I sounded. " Guilty as charged."Mark brought their tea over to the table and sat down opposite."Darling," he said. "There are two things we have to discuss. They're both important but one more than the other."Victoria sobered immediately. "Go on," she said."This chap you're going to the Ball with, Charles Fitzmaurice." Ye-es?" It was a slightly belligerent tone of voice."Rumour has it that he considers himself to be a bit of a lady's man." So? Do you think I can't deal with that?" No, darling. I think. ” Jessica looked up at me hopefully. I didn’t really want to. Jessica just wasn’t my type. Not a lot of girls were. I hadn’t ever had a girlfriend, and no one knew it except Adam. I felt bad though, seeing as how Jessica was pretty cute and she liked me a lot. I itched my neck and looked down.“Well.. .I dunno. I kind of planned to hang out and play some video games with my bud here.” I put Adam in a headlock and gave him a noogie playfully. Jessica’s face fell, and she turned to walk away. “I’m. You see, John’s wife was my baby sister. Every time he sees me...”“He sees his wife in you,” Megan finished the sentence.“Well, Shirley was a lot better looking than I am,” Jack said, “but yes. Every time he sees me he is reminded of Shirley.“Megan, John is one of the strongest, toughest men I have ever known. He will NEVER tell you this, but he was wounded three times and earned a Navy Cross and two Silver Stars during four tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a legitimate hero.“But when he.