It wouldn’t be that hard to issue her something to get her on her way. “That’s why they made you the consul, right?”Cookie wasn’t sure that ...he girl understood why he brought her to the office, but she must have realized by its armed guard that it was an important place. Maybe she thought Cookie was some sort of important guy, he hoped, by the way, that the Marine at the gate and the boss-man inside seemed to know him.The girl’s name was Mirta; of that Cookie was sure. For family name, maybe. “You need to take some pills for the pain.”“I don’t want to”, she whined. The note had warned me her reactions could be a little unpredictable. I managed not to snap at her.“Now Mandy, don’t be difficult”, I said, as if patiently dealing with a small child. I got the pills for her, and the jug with a straw for her to drink.She pouted, but she reluctantly opened her mouth and swallowed them. I offered her the straw and she sucked greedily. I paced her a little by pinching the straw, not wanting. . no.” he stammered, “nothing like that” he finished with a whisper. The two women glanced at each other as the last part of the sentence was inaudible.“What was that?” Anna asked softly.“It wasn’t about me” Michael answered quietly.“A race thing? About your Dad being Irish?” Anna struggled.Michael shook his head and then it twitched to the left a fraction as his mother struggled to think what could’ve set off the normally pleasant and polite young man in front of her.“Was it me?” Caitlin asked. She was obviously aware that they didn’t share blood, but it shook her to hear him say the words. She turned away and wiped her eyes.James jumped up from the bed and rushed over to the chair, squeezing Patty as he hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry mom! I didn’t mean it like that! It sounded so bad when it came out. You know that you’re the person I love the most in the world, forever.” Patty was comforted by his words, and turned to hug him full on. Her giant melons pressed into James as they.