"We all packed up and walked out into the cold fall night. Jane and Bevsaid their good-byes, and we climbed in the Jeep and headed home. I droveand Me...ly fought with the heater. Once we got settled and on our way Ireached over and took her hand. I looked at her and said, "Thanks for anice birthday."Melly brought my fingers up to her face and kissed them. She smiled andin a sexy whisper said, "I don't think it is over yet."When we got in the house I went in to the kitchen to put a few thingsaway. This wasn’t a solution, was it? This was not wise.But this was what she had wanted for so long. Freedom to do this – to go where her mind had gone so often. In a day’s time it would be too late. So, just this once. And then it would be all right. It would be different. Wouldn’t it?She knew where to go. She had seen them there before. And so she walked onward, through the town centre, past colleges, over the river, across the Backs, along one of those footpaths heading west out of town, over a. The day of St. Valentine drew near, when any man or woman without the warmth of another body in their bed was a thing to pity. I'd gone five years without that joy, since my husband's death, and I was damned by the sad cow eyes my fellows sent my way. To lie with a widow was taboo, moreso when she was young and childless, as I am. My mother was one of then many who loved to recite the trite, "You can do anything you put your mind to," and I was impressionable as a child. With her voice in my. I smiled and let out a large puff of blue smoke from the cigarette, Clarisa just shot me a dirty look then loudly muttered "men." "And do I get a name, or should I call you the girl with the pretty smile who loves boys?" This time she laughed, and the waves of emotions that I had experienced from the smile hit me again, only this time they had reached an intensifying degree. I think I was in love. "Of course, It's Sandy" she answered as she let out another giggle "At least this time you were.