“So how’s it going with the waitress?” she asked dryly.“Think I’m in with a chance?” I said with a smile.“She would,” Lorraine replied... “Are you attracted to slim, beautiful girls half your age?”“I don’t really like slim,” I said honestly. “Or young. And beautiful… well, that’s debatable.”The conversation got stuck there as we smiled at each other and neither of us wanted to break the spell.“Show you around?” I ventured, standing up.“Sure,” she said. “You go much to show?”We were both fumbling. If they were going to stay up late watching the fireworks, they were going to need a long afternoon nap.We took them up to their rooms and after kisses and hugs and tickles the girls curled up and took a very long nap. As soon as I closed Genevieve’s door I was wondering what to do. Maybe I would take a nap too. Then I heard a voice.“Paul, would you please come down here?”Blossom was at the bottom of the stairs.“Sure.”I answered softly, so as to not wake the girls. I walked down the stairs to. ”We stopped at the near side of the bridge and I pushed the two men that had threatened us to the Guardsman. They shifted as I took off their weapon belts and held them out, “assaulting the Watch is the charge. I believe the magister normally gives them twenty lashes in public. The weapons are to be sold or destroyed, your choice.”We started walking as the Guardsmen looked at the two prisoners. At the other end of the bridge Eric gave the prisoner a push to the two Guardsmen. I took his weapon. Ihad everything ready for Mom's drink as I awaited her arrival. Shedidn't disappoint and came through the door just after six. "Joan, the house looks beautiful!" Mom exclaimed as she walked throughthe door. For some reason, she exuded total confidence that evening. Idecided to take shelter in what I hoped was her safe harbor. She askedme about my plans for the weekend and whether or not I was working onMonday. Of course, the library would be closed. I decided on the spur ofthe moment that I'd.