" I hope I don't need it." Pushing on the armrests with both hands she stood up unassisted and turned toward the door.They were in the "green room"—...he waiting area—of the most popular worldwide late-night holograph show, on which she'd appear within, now, only a few seconds. It was a painstakingly arranged, and widely publicized, appearance. A week earlier she'd called the show's famous host, a quasi-comedian, quasi-pundit named Jerry Tomlinson, from her island home to suddenly offer her. Besides, despite the fact Alison always got a little sadwhen giving her advice on the topic, she had given Skye a bold plan totry with Roald.So it was that in the hallway upstairs, Chistmas eve, the two stood alonewhile the other's celebrated downstairs. Skye was holding Roald's giftin her hand and looking into his eyes with fear."Go ahead," he said, "Open it."She gasped at uncovering the box. 'It's beautiful,' she wanted to say,'It's perfect.'After a long while she finally whispered, "Turn. ” Tim paused momentarily, then suddenly he remembered what was so annoying about the day. “It IS my birthday!”“You mean you forgot?” Tim’s little sister cried in disbelief. “I will never forget my birthday! How could you forget?”Carmen was on her knees, laughing maniacally while pointing at her big brother. Juanita giggled at her daughter’s antics but tried unsuccessfully to gather in her daughter. Raymond shook his head and looked to the ceiling for answers for both his son and daughter.“I. .‘Thanks. That’d be nice. Not every day I get offered a drink by an attractive woman.’Now, I don’t get compliments very often……I used to, back in my late teens and 20s, so even a tongue in cheek one was well appreciated!I turned on the lights in my hall and Ezugo followed me through to the kitchen. He took a beer and I poured myself a decent size glass of wine. As he took his first couple of swigs, I studied him a little closer. Tallish, maybe around 6ft……well built, but not fat. Strong arms,.