”“Then make me understand. There is nothing here. Not one thing.”“This is where I belong. I take care of the children. Everything is here. I a... comfortable here, and before long I will die here. The generations before me will have died here. I shall die with dignity. I will end the line. I have a great deal of pride living here.”“There is nothing dignified about it.”“Then accept that Allah has meant it to be this way.”“Allah? You can’t be serious. Are we talking about the same Allah? What is it. This must be your friend, Rick." She walked around the front of the car to greet me with a hug as well. For whatever reason, I didn't sense the stiffness I saw in her previous embrace."Hi, Crystal. Nice to meet you." Come in, come in. You can get your bags later. Your father will be right down, Astrid," the woman announced over her shoulder as she led the way into the large foyer.I entered the home and was overwhelmed by the grandeur and décor. It was indeed a mansion. Two curved staircases. )It rained heavily that Sunday night, and not long after the girls hadfallen asleep, a thunderstorm began. Both girls came running out of theirbedroom and asked if they could sleep with their mother. She turned backthe covers and invited them to climb under with her. The sensation oftheir bodies against hers was both strange and comforting at the sametime. "There, there now, girls" she said. "Don't worry. Nothing's goingto hurt you. Your mamma's right here." All three of them soon fell. They didn’t see me. I snuck away and went back outside and walked around for a couple of hours. When I came back, they were done and there were no signs of what had happened. That night, when I asked Jeri about it, she freaked out and made me promise never to tell.”“So why are you telling be now?”“I think you need to know everything. That’s why I asked you to promise not to fire Jeri. I think the only way you’ll ever be my friend is if I tell the whole truth. All of it.”I nodded, “That’s.