A young, slim, attractive Chinese girl was sitting on the sofa and a stocky, smartly-dressed young man was seated on a wooden chair in the corner of t...e room. “This is Yee Long and that’s Jimmy over there. This is Anastasia”. Yee Long smiled and nodded.“Hi Anastasia”, replied Jimmy in a thick Scottish accent. “Jimmy’s no ma real name, but it’s what they call’t me in the army. Whatever you do, NEVER call me ‘Jock’ and we’’ git alang jus’ fine”, he added. “Do sit down”, said Linda. “Would you. " No you're not. That wasn't an ear I just felt when we hugged." Giggle. "Sanity check?" That's what I'm angling toward," I said. "Jenn, you're darned sure attractive to me. And you're intelligent. But are you crazy?" If I was crazy then the ex would be lying in a freezer in fourteen separate plastic bags." She heaved a sigh. "I'm not crazy. I am disturbingly lucid today. And inventory? YOU, sir, are attractive to me as well. Not one of those stud-muffin calendar guys, no. Just a good, decent,. ”“Care to translate for the ignorant American?” Jocelyn asked.“Uh, no,” I said. “If I say THAT word out loud, you WILL get to witness an eighteen-year-old having his mouth washed out with soap.”My mom nodded, “Exactly. Your father is going to lose it, Mike.”“I know. That’s why Jocelyn and I are here talking to YOU. She’s partly cover, partly moral support. Dad won’t be suspicious. But, sometime tomorrow, a Sheriff’s Deputy will come here to talk to Liz and by Wednesday morning, it’s going to be. “Ohhh,” the word is a soft realisation. She reaches for your free hand with hers and the smile she gives you is somehow both provocative and guileless. Her head bends forward and the lap of her tongue against your hand sends a frisson of heat shooting up your arm before spreading through you and pooling…lower. She shakes salt onto the wet patch and you both pick up your shooter glasses.“Cheers,” you say softly, clinking your glasses together while you stare into her eyes. Your heads bend in.