" I suppose cousin Roberto is here?" I asked."No, father has banished him for the evening," she said with a huff."Really?" I asked."Well, not in so ma...y words, but he found someplace Roberto needed to be on business. It is the same thing. Daddy would never send Robert anywhere on business unless it suited some other purpose. He's just not that good a representative for our family interests, despite his opinion of himself." I see," I laughed.Dinner was surprisingly mellow. Mr. Montoya was much. "Show her some respect, Ralph." I'm sorry, Lyra, it won't happen again," I made clear with my feet tapping the floor."It's okay, Ralph," I heard her say.A few seconds later, I felt her arms come around me from my right side. She pressed herself onto me a bit and even pecked my neck once. I made sure not to let my dad see my face because I didn't want him to see my discomfort."You're still my favorite step-son, Ralph, and I love you," she let out, backing away."I love you too, Lyra," I added,. The place was subtly altered and Jennifer’s clothes seemed to take up all the available space. Eventually April arrived and Peter’s bachelor days were almost at an end when he drove Jennifer to Mascot airport. ‘Goodbye, Jennifer.’ His arms encircled her waist and the passengers had to thread their way around them. ‘Don’t be late for our date next week. I’ll be so anxious to see you. None of that rubbish about the bride always being late.’ Peter ruffled her hair. ‘Be careful darling,’ she warned. Although he rarely talked about it, she could tell that his hope for social justice and desire to understand what had happened to the US had changed into a visceral hatred of the entire political system and power structure. It was a quiet hatred, biding its time, waiting for the moment when circumstances would allow him to seek revenge. Specifically he envisioned storming corporate offices carrying a crow-bar and crushing the faces of anyone richer than himself. As Ruthie foresaw her.