I think it’s like the usual rebellious teenager kind of stuff.”“Gotcha. I was a teenager once too.”“But here’s what is so crazy. Bob was s...pposed to introduce me to his stepson after we got married. But he had to leave town on emergency business so now I’m here and the kid’s here. We haven’t met before.”“Hmmm. Sounds awkward.”“No, it’s even worse. Bob told me to avoid him completely.”“How? Don’t you live in the same house together?”“He lives in the pool house out back. And Bob told me. They had tohurry to make sure they would be finished with dinner in time fortheir Broadway show.When they entered the exclusive restaurant, Ashley took Sandy's coatand handed it to the check girl. A murmur swept through the elegantclientele as they were shown to their booth. "That's Ashley Vaughn.You know, the TV star." Ashley beamed while Sandy stopped to sign anautograph for a nervous high school girl at a nearby table.Ashley ordered for both of them, Martinis to start, and then a bottleof. "Look, I'll make it a hundred dollars for the report," the dark haired girl finally said. "That's five times what I originally offered." I aced all the math courses too," Tami replied. "I could've figured that out for myself. But you could make it a thousand and it wouldn't make a bit of difference. I told you the cost of my help, and it's non-negotiable."Laurie's face dropped. There were few times in her life when she had to face the fact that money couldn't cure any problem."Of course you. I tried to call her when I read that, but she was not answering her telephone. Clearly, this was something that Jackie was willing to write down but not to say to me directly. That was evidently a step too far for her. But that night there was another message from her: For a Very Nice Man I like the way you hold me in your arms, The way you kiss my lips and brow and cheeks, The peace I feel reclining on your chest, The strokes that make me fall.