’ ‘Burning the candles at both ends?’ ‘Some of us are single and still looking, and that takes effort and time, and involves a lot of booze do...n at the local club.’ ‘Thank God I’m married and past all that.’ Reaching up and tightening Josh’s loose tie she told him, ‘All the best one’s are taken.’ Clearing his throat he looked down at her, ‘Some of us don’t get much sleep due to screaming babies.’ Patting his cheek she smiled, ‘Just give me the chance.’ ‘Don’t be desperate Kelly. Men can smell. ”Allie gazed at him for a moment in wonder and then, with a single sob, plastered her lips to his.Finally she sat back. “Oh, my Toby,” she breathed, “my sweet, special Toby. Tomorrow?”Toby could not help himself. “Not until after your piano lesson, young lady,” he said sternly.“No, sir,” replied Allie solemnly and then got helpless giggles. “Pompous prig!” she managed at last.They both clung together laughing like idiots.There was a knock on the door and Ned stuck his head round it.“Are you two. The workers were still there putting finishing touches on everything. Our landscaper was well into finishing his work also. Most of the property, we were leaving truly natural but a masterful job had been performed with what was tamed. The pond was filling and the area in front was looking very good. We stood there embracing and looking out as we imagined what it would be like very soon. The workers had collected and saved cards from vendors coming by to sell us security and landscaping. The. Miss Edwards said she could tell I had done some work since we last spoke but I needed to do more. I was mortified when she told me about her conversation with my father and how he’d told her I still got the cane when I needed it. She reminded me that my father had agreed that she could cane me if I did not practice properly. I argued that he told me she could ‘spank’ me if I did not practice and she just smiled before telling me to play the piece again. My Dad had obviously agreed to her.