I walked towards the bathroom and when I got close she giggled softly, scrunching her nose.“You DO stink!”“I knew you were brilliant!” I chuck...ed.I walked past Jeri into the bathroom and turned to shut the door and almost ran smack into her.“What are you doing?” I asked.“I need a shower, too!” she said quietly.“NO!” I said firmly.“Yes,” she said just as firmly.That was new. It seemed like something had fundamentally changed in Jeri. She was more confident than I’d ever seen her be.“We are NOT. "Hail the conquering heroine! I hope you have good news for me."Mom and I sit down. "What do you want to hear first, the bad news ... orthe terrible news?" I ask.Lipscomb frowns. "Shouldn't that be bad news and good news?" Sorry, not a lot of good news, mostly just bad and terrible." Then I'll take the little good news." I'm invited back for next weekend." That's it?" Pretty much. The bad news is the place is a security fortress. Cameras,sensors, biomechanical security on all physical file. "So, you've met Mike then?" I blurted out a little too abruptly."Yes Ruby, we were just getting... acquainted" The same strange half-smile played on his lips and his lazy eyes were boring through me. But this time, I recognised the look. It was the same look Paul gave me when I was flirting with him and he became aroused. But why would he be doing that now? So overtly and persistently - in front of a stranger?!"Come 'ere Rubes" Paul almost growled, opening his arms up and patting his lap,. And that wasn't going to be for three weeks.So, they had two choices. They could wake me up the following morning,tell me what had happened and let me go back to being the adult me,staying with them as my normal self until things changed. Or they couldkeep me on ice for a few more hours, continuing to baby me as Iexpected while they prepared me to be their baby girl, not for aweekend but for three whole weeks. It would need a little preparation,and I wouldn't get any say in what they would do.