You know, I just might just sneak up on as you’re sitting in your favorite chair, wearing that nightie, putting my hands over your eyes and saying g...ess who.”“Let’s get a little spicy.”“Ooooooooh spicy, go for it!”“What would you like?”“You,” she laughed, and doing something new.”“Well I do owe you a special treat, something you would like.”“Mmmm, I like a lot of things,’ she purred.With a voice as smooth as Tennessee whiskey he spoke, “You tell me, how can I please you mistress?”Oh my god,. A thought occurred to me.Peeling off the highway at the first exit, I pulled over. “Give me that locket.”“Why?”“Because. Give it to me.”Her pale blue eyes narrowed in distrust. “What do you want it for?”“Your father gave it to you. I want to check it.”“Oh.” She removed it and handed it to me.I inspected it. It looked innocent enough - a simple locket. Opening it, I studied the photos. They looked normal; old, slightly distorted like they’d been shrunk and reproduced from Polaroids. Pulling a. I didn’t know howto carry her to our house which was a good 10 minuteswalk. And she is not very light weight either. So Ithought, I would leave her there and get a taxi. Wewere on the road side anyway so it would be easier forme as well. I jumped off the road and waited for ataxi. I saw one taxi parked slightly off the roadabout 200 yards away so I ran and got him to turnaround. I asked him if he would help me get my wife inthe taxi, he reluctantly agreed and we walked down toget her up.But she. ‘Evening, Lurch,’ I drawled. ‘Is the boss in?’ Ivan sniffed disdainfully at me. I could see it in my head as if I was standing right there. I still wondered what kind of relationship the two of us had. I respected him as a man, and he loved Gretchen like his own daughter, but I just couldn’t get past the need to spar with him like this. I doubt either of us really thought the barbs we traded were serious. It had become a game by now, and I wondered if that meant we actually liked each other on.