Her parents had spoiled her rotten as usual, and she took ages to tell me about all of the presents she'd received. Grandam Barnes in particular had o...tdone herself this year, it seemed. She had given Brenda a four-wheeler of all things. My girl raved about this mechanical marvel for quite a while before she wound down."The best present is the brooch, though, Sean. Mordew looks beautiful, I wish I could see him for real. I can't believe you made this all on your own."From the way she said it I. Lord knows why I felt this way, but I did.I went to the place that Ariel and I would go as it felt comfortable there. I sat at the bar, which I usually would not do, but I knew the bartender a little.He greeted me and said, "How are you, Miss Anna and no Ariel tonight?"I replied, "All by myself tonight, Airel had other plans.”I was enjoying my drink and listening to the music when a whole gaggle of guys came in, all dressed in dirty construction clothes. They all seemed ready to have a good. Hendricks very well, maybe at all. I recognized her poster-sized photo at the entrance to the room at the local mortuary. Maggie signed both of our names into the remembrance book. Most of the people there knew her from public service, like serving on the Board of the library, and her work with the Parent-Teacher Organization. Her grown-up children, parents in their own right, showed off their kids, yet another generation. I avoided looking in the casket. Too creepy.A few steps away from the. ”“Oh, I’d like that, Howie.”“Are you two studying or having a personal conversation?” Mrs. Kranick said, ending our talk for good.Sydnie-Ann kept staring at me. She didn’t cry and for that I was grateful. She did however pack up her things and left the classroom moments before the bell rang.I couldn’t stand being the center of attention and not having anyone approach me to ask the apparently unaskable question: Had I screwed both Reggie and Becky? So I cut the last two classes of the day and.