” The door clicked open and I forced myself to sit still as she crossed the room to me. She dropped her bag down beside the desk, laid a soft hand o... my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I thought you might need some cheering up.” I covered her hand with my own, still facing away. “How very sweet of you, Kay. And how were you planning to cheer me up?” She moved round to my side and I turned to face her. “By giving your desk the send-off it deserves,” she said. I ran my hands down. A minute later, Robert drove the enormous old Ford truck through the southern gate of the fire road. The Ford had a crew cab and Teddy had claimed the rear driver’s side seat so he could get the best view of the lake. Sammy rode shotgun.The road rose above the lake, past the trail to the waterfall that the girls had visited the previous day, and then plunged downward back to the lake. Robert put the truck in low gear and drove at a walking pace. The mountainous terrain made the road veer up,. 00, less than half the cost of just the cool erasable board, not counting the markers! We put the stuff in the back of the Trans Am and headed back towards the apartment.“We have a few more things to move, plus we need to clean the apartment top-to-bottom so I get all of my deposit back,” I said.“Are they going to make you pay the June and July rent?” Stephie asked.“I signed a one-year lease so I’m obligated to pay. I don’t see any ethical way out of that.”She nodded and we got to work sweeping. That is why I fell for you, Adam, your caveman romance, she quipped, opening the box. After a pause, as she stared at it, she said, It-it-it is beautiful. As are you, I added, meaning it. Her crystal blue eyes, glowing red cheeks, adorable dimples and sultry sweet lips created the most beautiful woman I had ever known. She took the promise ring out of the box and put it on her finger. Wow! So you like it? I asked relieved. It took me forever to choose the right one. It is perfect, she smiled.