"Again there was a long silence. Until I decided, "If you're OK, then I think I'll go. Are you OK?"She looked at me, very sadly, and she sounded sad i... her voice, "I'll be fine." I'll see the boys on my way out. Is it OK if I have them sometime over the weekend?" Of course. How about Sunday from my house?" OK. Let's say at noon, and I'll give them lunch."She nodded, and I left the room quietly. I stood on the landing and composed myself before I went downstairs.I found everybody in the sitting. Could you see to the maintenance boys getting on the new system? I don't want to take it out until our guys get done with it. I wouldn't trust those 1st Cav mechanics as far as I could spit." When she nodded at me I looked around the table and everyone was finished eating, except of course for Kat. I nudged her, "get a doggie bag, hon, we need to get on the road." I looked over at Everholz, "you got our next sites, Lani?" When she nodded, I said, "Okay folks, let's move."Everyone got up and. She obeyed wordlessly, stripping from her skirt and blouse right there in the front seat before she moved towards the back seat. Alex stayed behind the wheel, dressed, and looking forward. “Open the duffle bag and put everything in it on.” Beth opened the bag to find it empty. When she looked up towards Alex, she saw him smiling towards her. He would step from the car as he peeled off his shorts and tee shirt, and slip into the back seat with Beth. Alex gave Beth a small smile before embracing. We've been talking away like the clappers for the past half hour since I arrived." He looked up at the clock. "Golly! It's more like three and a half hours! It seemed a lot less. I hope I haven't been keeping you from any important domestic duties, Samantha!" A smell of burning indicated that he had indeed precipitated a culinary disaster of some sort.Lisa went into the kitchen to investigate and found that it was only some vegetables that had boiled dry. Some minor adjustment to the menu was.