“Race you to the hot tub!” I exclaimed. I ran up the steps as fast as I could. John was clearly faster than me because by the time I was half way ...here he grabbed me by the waist and threw me over his shoulder effortlessly. I screamed a little as he carried me to the hot tub. He slowly put me down and I just smiled at his strength. I took the cover off and slipped right in. The heat felt so good on my cold body. John sat next to me and I slid my hand on to his thigh. His cheeks reddened a. "There is something here we are not seeing. Something hidden." She looked around very slowly and then spoke again. "Stand and be very still. Take small, slow breaths." He looked at her intently, nodding his head in agreement. So far she had never been wrong.As he stood and watched, she reached into a very small purple pouch and pulled out a handful of powder. It was a fine powder, silver in color. She brought her hand to her lips and blew the fine powder into the air.The powder turned to a fine. I had been through too much and my world had gone from safe and secure to traumatized in the space of one afternoon. I started to sob and Eddie rushed over to me and pulled me into a close and sympathetic hug. For a moment I thought he would relent and let me put my clothes back on but instead he said “Tina, you’re my cash cow and I’m going to look out for you and take care of you. There’s going to be lots of stuff you don’t like but that’s what will keep bringing in the money. In return,. What we actually did was drive to a secluded park near the falls where a kegger was being held. For two bucks a head you could drink all the beer you wanted.The night was brisk, as it always is in eastern Washington in late February, but the good weather was holding. The stars were out and a full moon hung in the sky, providing scant illumination to the darkened family picnic area. The atmosphere was festive as we arrived, paid our money, and filled our first plastic cups with ice-cold beer.