Five million dollars now, plus an increase in the upcoming budget of another five million, was going to be a considerable shock to the good citizens o... Matucket. A big part of my future job would involve attending public budget meetings. Eventually I settled on $3.75 million for the rest of the fiscal year. That would at least allow me to start paying overtime, increase training, and start recruiting. From there I was able to bring up the RFP for the new storage annex. Technically the Request. I bet a lot of girls don't stop at one, she told herself. Whether she believed it or not was another story.By 11:30, the lights were turned down low on the dance floor, and the band was playing a series of slow, romantic tunes. They kissed, then kissed again more passionately. He slowly herded her into a corner and his hands were freely roaming – all on the outside of her dress.Alex kissed him back, of course. She knew about open mouthed kissing – so called French kissing – from reading and. I shot him a puzzled look."The nicknames," Geoff explained. "Who is who?"I smiled. "They just kind of evolved that way. Melinda is Honey, Leah is Sweetie and Katie is Baby. To the kids, they're Mom, Mommy and Momma." And what's your name?" Geoff asked with a sly smile."We call him Tiger," Melinda called from the kitchen. She came over, planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek and then winked at Geoff. "Although sometimes it's Stud when he gets frisky. Come on, guys, dinner is ready." Would you like. ..”“It closes the book on the past,” I said.“Yes, it does.”A totally different Becky. And that was a good thing.“I’m glad to hear that,” I said.“One other thing. I heard from Alyson the other day,” she said.“How is she doing?” I asked.“Great. She’s graduating in a week or so and she’ll start her graduate program in the fall. She asked about you. You should call her. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”“Oh?” I asked.“Call her, Steve. Let her tell you.”“I’ll try to do that this weekend,” I.