At least I am doing it for a good reason. smart girl he praised her as he began unwrapping his present. She was wearing a dingy tee shirt that was sev...ral sizes too big and he began by sliding his hands up her sides under the baggy shirt, getting her used to his touch. Without lifting the shirt, he moved his hands around to her chest. All the bible thumper girls were still completely flat at this age, nothing distinguishing them from the boys, all their secrete female contours still hidden. So. She felt a clenching in her chest and stomach at the thought. Was it strange to miss someone before you had even parted ways? When they left the restaurant, he followed her to her car, and they stood there a few seconds in awkward silence. Hug… kiss? Shake hands? Before she could wonder any long, he enveloped her again. His long arms wrapped fully around her and made her feel enclosed in a cocoon, and he moved while he hugged, his hands roaming up and down her back, around her sides, up to her. Intense satisfaction insuch a hollow victory that only a teenage girl would know, a long wayfrom my old spreadsheets and world of numbers."Yes Mummy I'm decent," was my meek reply as She flounced in lookingall so gorgeous in her Athleisure wear and white trainers."I have a lovely surprise for you as a treat for your little girlishtantrum last night Jemma."Smiling, she passed me the small black bag as I stood before her, aslightly surprised look on my face.Light pink but slightly frayed, a. Now then, I'm not telling you this as a parent, I'm asking you this as a friend. For your mother's sake."Miranda threw her hands down onto the wooden railing, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles immediately turned white. "I, I have my reasons for not staying," she managed, pushing down her misplaced anger, "You know that, and so does Mother. But I do what I can for her. I show up every year for the Festival, and I keep in touch whenever I can. It's just that... That this place... It...".