She was smart enough not to do it every week, but it seemed to happen every fortnight or so, with Francis invited over to our place for dinner.And, we...l, one thing always seemed to lead to another, pretty much like Pete described in the last chapter. With Grace dragging Pete off to bed, leaving the way clear for Francis to spend another night with me.But the truth is that while to some extent it worried me, in these weeks where Francis and I were now spending Tuesday, Friday and Sunday nights. Luke and I spent as much time as possible playing in the pool during the summers, but that stopped when his parents divorced. My parents had divorced several years earlier, being an reasonable child I had come to grips with the fact quickly and dealt with it well. I spent a lot of time comforting him, explaining how it had changed my life for the better and eventually I did get through to him. Kate took it very badly though as Brian (Dad) had run off with some twenty something tart with fake. The more we talked about it, the more anxious they became. Finally, almost in frustration of inaction, Joan stood, took her brother's hand and led him to their bedroom. Once I secured the boat and retired to my cabin, it was not long before I could feel the gentle rolling of the boat increase and continue like that for several minutes.It's a funny thing, sleeping on the water. In the early hours of the sunrise, usually the air is very calm and the surface of the water is like glass. No matter. " Sylvia glared at him, almost daring him to object.Barney looked a little sick, his face going pale. He bent back down, facing the little girl, and whispered to her. "I ain't got more than that, sweetie, but I will see what I can do, okay? You just hang in there."Christina didn't have the first clue what he was talking about, but his were the first kind words, the first time an adult ever spoke to her in anything more than a snarl or a curse. His tone was soothing, warm somehow, and it made.