“That is the whole idea, Cutty. I want them, just like you, to be out of the way as we progress to the next level. Or do you want to discuss everyth...ng you are told to do with them in detail?”“No, no, but...” Donna replied.“Understand it is better for all of you. They think you are getting help, and just have to go down, before going up. You can go down without worrying they’ll think you are a freaky slut, whose wrecking her marriage, her family.”Donna saw the logic, knew it was true in a. "That sounds like fun but... it'd be wrong. I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me, Andy. Ronnie may be a jerk, but I don't... well, do stuff like..."Beth stopped talking, flustered."I know that, Beth! I'm not trying to get you to do anything you don't want to do." I paused. What I said was true. It was just a matter of getting her to admit what she wanted."I like you, Beth. I could use a friend on this cruise and I think you could, too. Come on, we'll have fun. And believe me, no. ‘Oh, God no.’ Brooke began to look around frantically. There was clothing in the wardrobe, but she could not care less about that. That smartphone was her life. She could lose her hair, freedom or clothes…but she couldn’t lose that damn phone. She looked under the bed, in all the clothes’ pockets, even behind the wardrobe…But there was nothing. She was disconnected. She turned to the computer. It was not her precious phone, but it was a start. It was probably a special computer, monitored by. The tear slid off the edge of her chin, landing with a miniature splash on the thickly lacquered mahogany rail separating her from her lover. It was one of those unknown and unrecognized things that happen within our ken, yet go unnoticed.Mandy knew in the depths of her heart that if she dwelt upon the present, the rainstorm brewing behind her closed eyes would flow out. The agony of the present, contrasted with the ecstasy of the past would eventually need to be resolved. Sorrow would.