In books, hobbies, television, anything other than trying anything else.God, how she wished she could be what he wanted. How she wished she could make...him happy, satisfy him the way he satisfied her. How she wished...She walked aimlessly through the crowded mall, not even seeing the stores or the press of people starting their early Christmas shopping like she was. She was in her work clothes - very prim and proper, thick and concealing, and her hair was pulled sharply away from her face. She. ”“Such a gentleman too, damned shame you’re too young for me and too old for my daughter. I’d love to have you in the family.”“Well thanks Charlotte, I appreciate your approval of me.”“I just know that my daughter and niece will go absolutely nuts when they meet you. They are so boy crazy and they know absolutely nothing about boys.”“I doubt that, about going nuts over me that is. But girls do seem to know more these days than when I was a kid.”“Well, you may be right about that, they sure know. She was like him-determined to get what she wanted.But he was tougher, he believed.He took a bread knife from a drawer, and its blade glinted in the pale light coming inthrough the window. “How’d you like to have your throat cut?” he asked.“Thad!” Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean that!”“Maybe if I were to cut off just one titty ... “ he suggested. The liquor was beginningto take hold of him strongly, tired as he was, and it showed in his eyes, making himlook wild.“You’re crazy!” Edna said,. " Mark kissed Trisha's cheek while he held her in a tight embrace, even though they were still spooning."Merry Christmas Eve to you, too," Trisha echoed, slowly turning onto her back so she could look into the eyes of her lover. She was met with a kiss filled with the passion remembered from the night before. "Is anyone else up, yet?" she asked, looking around and not seeing any movement from the covered bodies next to them."Mom and Dad are up; they're having coffee in the kitchen. I heard Mom.