Her exposure to the business world was non-existent but also unnecessary. As it turned out, her husband advanced in his career quickly and often. He...ended up traveling for work and was gone for days at a time and frequently for days each week. She settled into her own life with the girls and developed a functional and loving environment for them, whether their father was home or not. When he gave her divorce papers five years ago, she was stunned and unprepared. She thought their lives. He said, "Great, you ruined a great time. I hope you are proud ofyourself. What do you have to say about that?" She shocked him when she said, "If you can't keep it up don'tblame me. If that is the best you can do maybe we better lock itup, It isn't any good for making love if you can't keep it up longenough to pleasure me, is it?" "Why don't you just shut up and get those stupid ideas out ofyour head." They turned back to back and fell asleep. The next morning hecame for breakfast wearing. "Or Bertie?"She laughed. "Maybe both," she said. "My God, she's what, like fifty you think?" Thereabouts," I agreed."And they will have been married twenty-five or thirty years, and she's still that naïve? Jesus." Yeah. Well, I suppose you're right, we did them both a favor." Probably." She giggled suddenly. "I hope so, anyway. You know, there's a pretty dreadful story about something like this." OK, tell it," I invited."It's like Celeste and Bertie. Two people who've been married for years,. Trish and I came out of the Uffizi Gallery on a Saturday afternoon. The steps outside the Gallery and those across the wide pedestrian walkway were crowded with people, drinking wine and enjoying the late August weather. Street performers were everywhere.As we walked into a nearby plaza, I glanced to my right at a particularly ugly statue. Suddenly, a hand appeared, reaching for my right side at about belt level. At home in Florida, I always carry a handgun right there and I’ve practiced what.