“Turn out the light on your way out.” She called out behind her.That was fine and dandy until I remembered why the couch was unavailable. Quickly,...I ran out of the room, hitting the lightswitch on the way out. “Hey Molly, I don’t think that’s gonna work.” I called out to her, walking swiftly up the stairs. I passed the kitchen to see her in the living room entrance, staring at Jerome.“I can see that.” she pouted. “And if we can’t move Chris, there’s no way in hell we’re going to make that lump. Burr had now fathered two children, both girls, both likely to live for the foreseeable future. He had taken on the woman, her two year-old son and her mother and father after her previous partner had fallen out of a tree, breaking his leg in several places. Although it may have seemed cruel, she had left him behind to his fate, taking the girls and her aged parents to a new home in caves thirty leagues away. Her mate would die, simple as that, survival of the fittest. The leg would never be. I let Poppa take the lead in these discussions now because the diplomatic angle was more his than mine. He was asked and quickly explained that I was the elected commander of our expedition with a record of organizing trips and fighting, both hand to hand and with weapons. He added that I trained all the women and many of the men of our party in self-defense. We were enjoying our time now.We joined them for supper. It was a grand meal with much pasta and good food. The women of the community. After washing and drying each other, I sat quietly on my bed, too spent to concentrate on anything. Thomas sat in the living area, lying on the sofa in a clean pair of boxer shorts and nothing else. We were exhausted. I thought that I was ready for bed. I realized that this night wasn’t the same as any other night in my life. I didn’t want to sleep alone anymore. I didn’t want to drift away into slumber knowing that the only warmth I would have would be the blankets that surrounded me. This bed.