After the wars we all retired at the same time and when Kathy and I moved to Tampa to set up a charter business they all came with us. I think they hu...t almost as much as I did when she was killed in that bombing. I think she had become their surrogate mother, even to Top who was just a few years younger that we were."So this is where you're hiding," someone said from behind me. I must have been zoned out because normally I would never have let anyone sneak up behind me like that ― getting old. I sure hoped it would work, because I dreaded Rex seeing me Sunday morning, if he got to the bathroom before me. Moonlight picnic dinner was fantastic: ciabatta was still fresh, the wine chilled, not enough breeze to snuff the candles. Rex ordered a fruit tray and we took that back inside. Sorry, no hibachi! I asked Rex, “Are we AFO?” “For now. Tomorrow is another day.” I nodded my head in agreement. We settled on the king-size bed. Typical, the man got to the remote before I could. He. I just grabbed a pair of really baggy pants and white tee shirt like I always wore I shaved and also did my hair which was rare. I looked good and so did she so we left to go to the party.When we arrived I noticed she forgot to tell me how many people were going to be here the house was full. So I just grabbed a beer and sat on the couch in the living room. There was a slow song on the stereo and there were couples all around dancing I was so bored.Then as luck would have it a beautiful girl. Tyrone stuttered. ‘I’ll get a room, but first I was hoping to say hi to Ms. Harriet.’ Annette sighed, ‘Momma passed away years ago. It’s just Shia and me now.’ ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Your mother was a good woman. She treated me real good.’ Tyrone stated thinking, Damn it, it she’s dead. I gotta find another way to get to Shia. ‘So Shia lives here with the two of you?’ Tyrone asked. Annette smiled. She knew exactly what he wanted. Well, this snake was too late. ‘No, Shia is happily.