For all I knew, Kathy was as fake a name as the rest of her.Evelyn was going to call but I thought it’d be better if I did. I am the man of the hous.... For all her nearly sixteen years, Evelyn had been looking after me in one form or another. It was time to show her I have what it takes too. Instead, Evelyn sat near me, ready to help if needed.Lotta might have ignored the call. She may have been busy. But luckily she answered on the first ring. I tapped the icon on Evelyn’s phone and hers began. Maybe in time she will join us. But yes I agree with you, we could do with swelling our little parties by one. It would be fun. We'll have to work on her. Make her feel more comfortable. And more 'one of us'. I'm sure she'll come round eventually.”A few hours, and more than a few bottles of wine and brandy later, the party gently broke up.“Well girls and boys it has been nice, as always having you around. But now I want you all to fuck off and leave me alone.”Julia spoke with that husky tone. I had to get off the phones for a few minutes. I had built so much of my self image around my intelligence. My ability to remember and integrate facts across a wide range of subjects. Oh, I know I wasn’t the smartest. I studied under people who made scary smart people look stupid. I knew I was smart enough to hold my own against most. I wouldn’t have been afraid to tackle an expert on his own field if I was given enough lead time. I gloried in it. It was the one place I felt respected.I grew up. Over the last month they had been out together a lot, three, sometimes four times a week, and she had really enjoyed it. She thought Lorraine had too. Then Lorraine got up, from the sofa they were both sitting on, and without saying a word, walked behind her. Then Lorraine leant over the back of the sofa, kissed her on the mouth, and at the same time slid her hand inside her dress, cupping her right breast. Lorraine squeezed Paula’s nipple hard between her thumb and forefinger, then looked.