I replied “Not if it is going to make life hard for Bruce. She probably won't let him hang around the group anymore.”Barbara said “With the grou...? Let me tell you something, she has no friends of her own. The only social outlet she has is Bruce's friends and their wives and girlfriends. You can probably figure out why. No matter how much you fire back she will be here next time to drag us all down. Trust me, we tried.”I had to ask “Why is Bruce with her? He is so smart and he is a kind person. " He squirmeduncomfortably. "I got drunk in public, made some lewd remarks to girls,and cursed at a police officer. My Mother was furious and there was achance that I might have gone to... juvenile detention."Tabitha pointed out, "And a counselor explained what would happen to anunmanly type like him once he got there and was put in with the roughersorts."Alex blanched at being reminded what his fate might have been. He wenton, "But we were able to arrange for me to stay here. And learn. He always remained in uniform until using the fresher before retiring. His job did include unpredictable occasions.Admiral Rowan was chatting to Shelly about a report on some work in the yard when the PGS Major arrived. Rowan had been expecting him and after shaking hands ushered him into the Dungeon. Shelly didn't pay any more attention and she had turned back to her work. Silas buzzed Shelly some ten minutes later,"Shelly does Aggy have an Uncle Gus or an Aunt Lillibet? I thought he had only. " She said reaching for her juice."Yep. Last night was super. At least... most of it was." I felt myself blush. "I had a great time with you last night. Dinner, dancing, and sweet lovemaking in the moonlight..."Suzanne smiled at me around a bite of croissant. "Yes. It was nice. You are the sweetest, kindest, most considerate lover I could ever imagine."Something jarred in me. She had just given me an incredible compliment. I could see the love her eyes when she said it. Yet — there was.