. I..." She was struggling to say something, but couldn't. The situation came crushing down on her and she just let go. We stood there, arm in arm for...what felt like eternity until I let go."Why don't we go to a place a little more comfortable?" Ashley took a deep breath, regaining her composure."Like where?" I was thinking you new bedroom. We could break in your bed." She smiled at me with an expression on her face that was somewhere between happiness and pure lust."Yes! I would love that!". Too quickly. *Lena?* *I'm here. It's ok. It's not what you were thinking. Just something else- something you knew would happen sooner or later.*Rose took a second to understand what that indicated. Then sheunderstood. *Oh! But... why now, all of a sudden?* *Sometimes stress can bring it on. Welcome to womanhood.* Rose could"hear" the ironic grin in that last comment. Her Gram insisted on making her a good breakfast, and keeping her companywhile she ate. Both of her parents were already at work,. "Don't act so shocked. It happens."Elaine felt herself getting angry, first at her mother, then at her husband and finally at herself. She got up without saying anything and went in to check on the boys. They were down for a nap. She walked over quietly and kissed Jimmy and then Todd. A smile came to her lips as she thought that at least two good things came out of the marriage."Have fun," Sandra said as she waived goodbye at the door.Elaine was a little late to the picnic and it was in full. “Karla?” he asked, nearly sure it was not.“Fredericka,” came the reply. “Karla is, how do you say, busy at the moment.”“Having fun, I would hope,” he responded.Karla had told him that the beautiful Fredericka was the organizer of a group similar to the one Karla managed in the States. She’d even sent him a picture of the blonde.“I think, yes,” the voice intoned gently. “We are having fun together. I asked if I could call you to invite you to hear.”“What am I going to hear?”“I would like you.