You sigh in frustration, before you finish packing up the cooler. I grab the beer and your hand, after you pick up the cooler with your other hand. We...shut off all the lights before we go downstairs to sit on the dock. Normally, my family and one of the neighbors compete every year, to see how many fireworks we can sneak into the state. But not this year, so we have to be content with just the neighbor's display.We bring the cooler down to our dock and sit on the chairs, we had placed there, to. .. that I don’t know about.”“You’re welcome,” June replied with a warm smile. But the smile lasted only for a moment before it disappeared and she gave me a look that could vaporize steel. “You can let go of my hand now.”I chuckled, removed my hand, and we both returned to our meals.“Look, Daddy’s home!” Seated on the sofa, Kim pointed toward the front door to direct BJ’s attention as he looked up from his spot on the floor amidst a dozen toy Tonka trucks.My son looked up, smiled his four-tooth. Our king." As my claim is just, not just a technicality, I must do as my honor demands. Aye, even if it means war against all four duchies, with all hands raised against me." You call that honor?" She laughed. "That isn't even within the faintest whiff of being within smelling range of honor. True honor means doing one's duty, to your fellows, to your people and to the land ... and lastly yourself. All else is puerile vanity! In example, if you were indeed appointed, anointed or otherwise. Watching my wife serve up the eggs I couldn’t help noticing how supple and full of grace every movement was. And most important of all was the large smile she had on her face because she knew this was the life she had always dreamed of. As we talked over breakfast, the conversation turned to the past as she remembered that turbulent year that spanned two Christmases. I could tell how she was hurting inside as she remembered the man who used her and then dumped her like garbage once he was done.