” She laughed, and that released some of her tension. She took a drink from her own punch. “Shonda, I know I don’t have to tell you how much I l...ve Kareem.” I swallowed the ‘huh’ of confusion that nearly popped out at the abrupt change in topic to Simone’s husband of 20 years and father of her boisterous teens. “Of course not.” “I just… I need more,” she blurted out. “I mean, he’s a good lover and considerate and all that. And your advice has helped us to spice thing up over the years…” I. It was late Friday evening; Jennifer has already gone for the weekendand Anita was alone in the living room reading some documents concerningher work. Betty came in bringing some coffee, dressed in her pinkuniform dress and white half apron, the picture of domesticity. Sheserved Anita with a slight curtsey and a big smile saying in a nearwhisper, "Your coffee Ma'am."Anita looked at her slightly startled, "I didn't hear you knockingmaid," she said in a mockingly severe tone.Betty picked. Me: What’s your name?Lady: Shanti, yours?Me: Madhusudhan. What are you doing?Lady: I work in a shop here.Me: Ok. Are you married?Lady: Do I look unmarried? I have 2 kids also.Me: Seriously, I couldn’t make out. You are very strong and look young.Shanti: Yes, I married when I was 19 and gave birth to 2 kids before 22.Me: What’s your husband doing?Shanti: Don’t ask for it. I will get irritated if I talk about him.Me: Why?Shanti: He does some work here and there. But he spends everything on liquor. Tim was a friend of Marks family Mark had known him since he was a boy before we got married we would sometimes meet up with him for a drink in the local pubs I got on well with Tim, I must admit he was one of the guys I would flirt with a lot, he helped us a lot with the moving in and decorating he was often round ours or we would go to his.We had been married about 5 months when Tim had his 50th birthday he had a huge party at his house most of the village were invited, we went round early on.