Jackie, having been kept up on her progress with weekly reports from Joe, smiled in return, holding her hands in front of her face to contain her exci...ement.“Come in, come in! I have been wanting Joe to bring you here for months. Welcome to the family, Marta!”Inside, Mom had gotten dressed up, a rarity these days. She would usually not bother, telling them, “Bah, I’m old, I can do what I want.” usually followed by a laugh. Today though, she had done her hair, put on her makeup and worn a dress. You're such a good writer. And such imagination..."He hazarded a look at her, saw her smiling at him like the cat that just ate the canary, and cleared his throat."You know, Gabrielle, they might not have been mine. Maybe you just thought..." PurpleProse1020, right?"He closed his eyes. "Yeah." I loved them! Some were so romantic, and some were sooooo nasty. It made me wonder how you thought of them. It was so exciting reading them, knowing who wrote them..." Gabrielle!" he said, staring at her.. “Sorry, Your Honor,” she back-pedaled.Hawkins gaze never wavered, even though Sonia was studiously looking down at the table.“So you did, Miss Peoples, so you did,” he said with a mirthless, predatory smile. “And had I listened to you I’d have never had a chance to review the division of assets you concocted. A division so egregiously one-sided and full of errors, someone less trusting than me might suspect larcenous intent.”I leaned forward in my chair and looked from Hawkins to Sonia and. Victoria sawthe look on my face and asked, "What's wrong?" I don't know. I seem mesmerised by the bag. I want to see what's in itbut I'm afraid. "Victoria sat down beside me and put her arm around me. "I love you,what has happened has been incredible, it turns us both on. What we doin private is between us and won't harm anyone." Okay," was all I that could say.Victoria pulled the bag towards her I admit that I was shaking a little.She turned the bag upside down and produced a pile of satin.