In fact, I started drinking the moment I stepped into my room in a flophouse. I could barely see she came out of my bathroom wrapped in my only clean ...owel before I passed out in my chair.When I woke up the next day, Zoë was already gone, but she'd also tidied up my place somehow. It was nice for her to have done that, whether she treated it as a payment in lieu or a gesture of care. I saw her at the club that night, but we didn't talk, nor did she come to my place again. A week or so later. ." Mom!" Still..." Ugh," I sighed, rolling my eyes."This is not an ‗ugh' matter," Dad said. "Sophie, this is serious. How long have you known this boy?"I still hadn't told them it was Craig, I had made him wait outside. "My whole life. Mom, Dad, calm down." I took a deep breathe, "It was Craig." Craig Wilkinson?" Mom sounded shocked."Yes," I said. "And I love him, and have known him for my whole life. And I'm happy that we did it, and I don't regret it." Craig Wilkinson?" she repeated."God,. ..****************************************************Predictably - well it was his Birthday treat after all - Michelle made the first move :-“Are you going to unwrap your Birthday Present then” Michelle’s eyes directed his to the bow on her wrap – and as he stepped forward his hands slowly pulled open the ribbon at her waist, the wrap slipping from her shoulders to the floor – a little shy being so very nearly naked, and him fully dressed - she kissed him gently, and allowed her hands to undo. They're going to do a bunch of tests today and then they'll know for sure. Don't go worrying yourself sick now. You look like you've been having a bad time and I don't want to see that."She nodded with a grimace that was an attempt at a smile. She bent over and kissed me. A nice, long, sensitive kiss that left me feeling a lot better. I hope it did the same for her."Do Rueben and Tom know what happened?"She nodded again. "Yes, I called them yesterday morning before I knew you were still.