Through her rear window, I watched a raised arm waving a final farewell. I plodded to my car and dropped into the driver’s seat. I let my head slump... my brow resting on my arms which were draped along the top of the steering wheel. Christ, I thought, this car park is where we met up again. And now she’s gone. Back in the day, that old dingy bar had been the venue for our beginning and end. Deja bloody vu. And then I started to sob and heave, uncontrollable tears cascaded down my cold cheeks.. I laughed and checked the steaks. “Of course. My sister has always been a nudist, and Yuki is dressed exactly as she was told. Aly and her parents were warned of my unusual little family and household before she came to live with us.”I could see, and feel, her doubt as I moved the steaks off the grill and onto a nearby platter. Leanne came to take it from me, and I moved the foil-wrapped packs of veggies onto another platter that had sat under the first. Leanne came back for that one as I. The three of us ate our first slice silently. When Patty finished hers, she asked, "So, it's you and June solo until tomorrow night?" There's Merry's initiation," I said."But it's just you and June... two friends tonight?" Yeah," I said. June nodded in agreement."Want company?" Patty asked. "I prefer sleeping with friends than with two lovers." Overnight?" I asked."Why not? I can try to help rouse Kristen tomorrow morning." What about your mother?" I asked."She knows we're all friends. She. I can use the exercise. And Matthew likes going to the park.”I made the call and got on the list for four recruits for Thanksgiving. Because we’d been cleared the previous year, and I hadn’t had any run-ins with the law that mattered, approval would be automatic. They promised a call the week before Thanksgiving to confirm the details.“All set!” I said. “Let’s take the boys to the park!”October 24, 1987, Chicago, Illinois“Are you here all the time?” I asked Alex when we sat down to.