.."Renee stated inquisitively as she saw Chloe get up quickly to thebathroom, so she followed her there. Renee entered, her anger subtlyturning into c...ncern. "Hey are you alright?" Chloe was still coughing,with her broken English words slurring out in a low tone. She grabbedfor her purse, grabbing an inhaler and then using it, recovered hervoice. "Ah much better," Chloe before turning to Renee, pleading,"Please keep this between us - I have a slight asthmatic condition butso long as I got this. “That’s a lovely piece.”She reached up and touched it.“Oh, thank you. It was my grandmother’s.”She unpinned it as though to examine it closer but instead handed it to him. This demonstration of trust surprised and pleased him and he accepted the brooch with interest. It was beautiful; an oval amethyst set in a finely granulated spiral band of gold. But it was what was carved on the amethyst that most impressed him. There an ancient master lapidary had cut a wonderful representation of a naked. The television was on. I set about making dinner. I was famished. A day of sun and water does that to me.All in all, it had been a great Saturday and I wanted to celebrate. In the refrigerator, I found a lost Rolling Rock beer and opened it. “Happy National Anti-Boredom Month,” I said, taking a sip.Rory responded with a “Huh?” from the sofa. “Did you say something?”“Nope.”Dinner - fresh grilled, crispy-skinned salmon with a lemon-dill cream sauce, new potatoes, and fresh green beans - was easy. I loved him, like a brother yes, but also as more than a brother.We hadn’t been there long and had exchanged little more than these few words when he looked at his watch and said,“I’m afraid I’ve got to dash. Some local guys I met this morning at the dock said I could go out with them and find out about deep-water fishing. I’ve always wanted to do that. I need to get back.”And with that, he jumped up and brushing my damp hair back from my face with his hand in an affectionate gesture, he bent.