"Hermione said the same about Trisha -- Mama, did Trishado something wrong at the church dance?" She did dance with some of the men." The woman sighe.... She'd beenexpecting that Emma would hear the gossip. Trust Cecelia Ritter'sdaughter to be the one who would inform her daughter. "And she...walked a bit with one of them -- holding hands. That's all."At least, it was she would tell Emma. A young girl had no reason toknow about things like love bites, let alone that her transformedfather. It didn't bother her too much; much of her upbringing could be described as wild and anarchic; her life blessed with heavy doses of liberalism. By the age of nine her hair had more colours than I had coloured felt-tip pens in my pencil case. By the age of twelve, her uniform was tie-dyed and by fourteen she was almost expelled for taking the tower block hostage to protest at the crisis in the Balkans and the genocide of Bosnians.But as she counted down her teenage years, her sense of rebellion. Something about her intrigued me. She was so, ... classy is the word I decided on. I certainly had no interest in “eldersex”. I liked nubile bodies in my bed, and I usually dated women younger than me. If I had what you would call a “girlfriend” it was Claire back home in Montana. She was more like a friend with benefits. She was 33, divorced, no kids, and had told me many times she could make us exclusive if I were to make the commitment. At the moment, we were happy with the way things were,. If the temptation grew too great, would she be able to resist?"Hey, bro, why so down?" Nick asked his little brother, who was in the living room playing Xbox."Things are over with Emma," replied glumly, not taking his eyes from the big flat screen TV, where he was busy mowing down Nazis in a first-person shooting game."That sucks, but you guys have split before. I'm sure you'll be back together in no time." Nick plopped down beside his brother on the couch."No, it's permanent this time. I think.