This is Eve. My wife died many years ago, while Liam was still a child. Eve has spent nearly a decade as a part of my family, as a part of my life. Or...ginally, she was programmed to help. Since then, I have removed both the chip and the board from her, so she has complete free will, even here. I am proud to announce, publicly, that she has also agreed to become my wife.”There were a couple of shocked looks at that, and I made note of who had them on their faces. From the corner of my eye, I saw. ”Millie arrived at the table with the coffee pot. They stopped talking. Homer took a refill, but Cal passed on it.“Here’s the deal,” Homer restarted after Millie walked away; “I’m hoping I can pass the office on to you when I’m done, Cal. You’d be a natural for it. The people like you and trust you. You’d be a shoo-in and you’d do a fine job, too. I’ll make the endorsement—you’d be unstoppable.”Homer’s offer surprised Cal. He always thought that Homer would have to be carried out of his office. Mercy, Aunt Jane. AuntHanna. Aunt Hilda. Cousin Betty. Cousin Shirl. And especiallyBrutella, because you're the one holding that all-to-familiar paddle."He honestly couldn't believe it had only been three days since hisarrival. Jimmy tried to turn his frown upside down but only succeeded inmaking his red-lipsticked lips, formerly so quick to express his bad boypersona of naughtiness, disobedience, and making unpleasant noises,twitch.******Is six months a long time? It seemed like six. "Not mine, but one I started seeing last year. There's this little girl hiding in a closet from her dad or step-dad or something. He comes home, drags her out of the closet, and forces her to have sex with him." I glanced at Allison. "This time it was a lot more detailed than it's ever been. I could hear almost everything that was going on. Before tonight it had just played out like a silent movie. This time I heard everything but him." Everything but him?" Allison asked."Yeah, that seemed.