I wasn’t able to gather many facts about my father, but one thing I knew from pretty much everyone who talked about him was that Albert Evans was an...alcoholic. Well this new fella was an alcoholic, and one snake mean bastard to boot. I tolerated him as best as I could. I didn’t want my mother thinking I disliked him out f petty jealousy, so I tried to develop a thick skin and just live with the man despite his ways. He was and still is a conniving old fart. When my mother was around the man was. As the evening drew to a close, we sat began to talk. After about half an hour of chat, the conversation turned to love, lust and sex. We talked about our recent relationships and the way we both couldn’t seem to find someone decent. “It’s harder for me though,” she said. “Why?” I asked. “Look at me,” she said, a trifle bitterly. “You’re beautiful, Sameera,” I told her. Just my face? Or my body too?” “Well,” I said, “I can say your face with certainty. But I’ve only caught glimpses of your. 3The commercial was based on the universal belief that pretty young girls fall inevitably out of their clothes as soon as they're left alone together. Tessa had loved the idea as soon as her agent had described it to her: five beautiful girls sharing a house in the suburbs, preparing for an evening out on the town. Running from shower to bedroom, borrowing hairdryers and stockings, swapping dresses hand to hand and making up in the mirror; the myriad little things women do before the big night. But I think maybe you should keep it out of sight this weekend. I don’t want either of us to have to explain its significance.”She slipped the chain from her neck and dropped it into her bag. “Understood.”It was well after dark on a late October Friday when we pulled into the driveway of a 1960s vintage ranch-style house. I popped the trunk and carried our bags to the front door.My half brother opened the door. “Mom ... Dad ... Lenny’s here.”My dad and Karen stepped to the door. “Karen ....