"You holding up okay?" Just about. How about you?" I knew that Stephanie's death must have hit Susan almost as hard as me, so close were they."Slowly ...ouncing back." She answered with the hint of a smile."I didn't realise that you did anything slowly." I joked and received a thump on my arm as a result."So what brings you up here?" I asked after fetching another glass, filling it and passing it to the still standing young woman."A change of jobs. I don't start the new one for another week so I. " Lindsey tried to stay his hand but knew it was a waisted effort before she even started. Aaron's line took emergency calls from policy holders, and she knew he wouldn't ignore someone who might need help, especially that night. Aaron just shrugged hopelessly and answered the line. * It was almost midnight by the time Aaron got home that night. His plans to join Lindsey were forgotten, brushed aside by a disaster that befell a family he didn't even know. Their home had burned down, another. "Well, what does my darling little wife want?" he inquired with the same sneering courtesy he had used with her for the last two days.Kathy chose her words carefully, determined to find out exactly how much Henry knew about what was planned for that evening. Assuming the most sweet and docile expression she knew how, the fresh-faced young wife humbly murmured, "Darling, I know that you'd just like to be rid of me for an evening--and believe me, I understand, I really do. I was thinking that. Well maybe a few of the more observant mighthave suspicions. I know I'm acting different. My mannerisms havechanged. I try to keep on top but once or twice I let down. I think Iwas noticed. Who knows, who cares. I just spent the past three days andnights with five different guys, not including Todd. I can't help butfeel empty. Nobody left me wanting more. I kind of feel a little cheapabout it. I guess it was pretty cheap. I'm kind of obsessive compulsiveabout things like email and my cellphone..