It was when I passed through the doorway from the bright kitchen intothe more dimly lit living room that Kate discovered a problem."Ted, I'd hate to s...y this, but you're going to need a slip under thatskirt; I can see right through it, when you're backlighted."Some discussion followed, about what all a slip was for, and, althoughI was resistant to wearing one, I finally conceded that modesty was animportant issue.Jean, having caught just the end of the conversation, hastily addedthat something. She just knew that Lena and Anatoli were the real thing. There was only one way to go in a relationship like that, and it had already been a year of spending every possible moment together. The next logical step was cohabitation. It pained Hilary to think of it, since it would take her best friend further away from her, but if it made Lena happy, Hilary would be supportive. ‘I just wouldn’t be surprised if Anatoli asked you to live with him,’ Hilary confessed and smiled when Lena’s mouth. "I kissed her again."I'd say, go for it."I paused."Although I'm not sure I want to be there if it happens. Not sure Matt would want me to be there, either. I'd like you to tell me all about it, though. Can you do that?" Yes, I think I can."There matters stood until the following summer. Matt came to stay for a couple of weeks not long after we'd sent Julie off to begin her freshman year. We spent most of our time out at the pool in the afternoons, going through gallons of iced tea and more. I think her worry about being an outsider to our threesome waned if not disappeared. She knew we each liked her a lot, and that we wanted her around for as much time as she could spare.The girls did their Saturday at the zoo and Marcia got to meet Margaret and Lenz Czerny – Chris’ parents when she drove to Westborough to pick up the girls. The explanation that she was my girlfriend passed muster with the parents, and they accepted that the three girls just wanted a Girls’ Day Out together.