It took her another moment or two to regain her composure. I stroked my fingers up and down her back softly as I waited."I can't believe it. It's perf...ct. I mean, to use the money like that. Tell me you're going to do good, and help lots of people, please Michael," she cried softly."No, Sweetheart, WE'RE going to do good. That's what I wanted to ask you. Would you be the President of the Foundation?" Me?" she said in disbelief. Then the tears started again. By now, I was pretty sure they were. ”“She has a slightly different take on things, but yes, she told me those things. She says you agreed to work on it, not that you agreed to marry.”I sighed, “It was complicated. But it was also the case that I wasn’t going to give you an answer until Bethany and I sorted things out one way or the other. In the end, we couldn’t overcome the gap.”“Because of Becky? That just seems like a convenient excuse,” Jessica said as I gently lathered her hair.“Oh no, it’s not,” Kara said, coming into the. ”“Please, Andy, don’t call me ‘Mel’. It makes me feel funny.”“Okay. Sorry. I knew another Melanie once and she liked the nickname.” She nodded.“To answer your question, I guess it was always there, but I didn’t realize why my parents kept buying me boy’s toys when I preferred dolls. I was in sixth grade when I finally discovered the wonderful world of sexuality.“I went to the library and found some books. At first, I thought I was gay. But it wasn’t that I was more attracted to other boys, not. He'dbeen watching the chaos unfold from the safety of the shadedoutcropping, but this was the first time he was truly worried. Bayonettawas down and so were the rest of her order. A gigantic beast of hellfireand malice loomed over them.He stood and walked forward, passing the five foot circumference thebarrier had previously held him to. It was gone. The spell had faded.Cereza had said if that happened, he should run.Run he did, but it wasn't to the car. There was no way he was going toleave.