Carla and I were on the couch and mom was in her favorite lounge chair, legs stretched out on the ottoman in front of her. I was nude, Carla was in a ...hort black T-shirt that she'd borrowed from me after another one of our sex-romps, and Mom was in a nightgown and robe. The lights were out in the living room, but enough light shone from the TV to splash us all in a swirl of ever-changing hues. During a commercial break, Carla and my mother started to talk about some aspect of the show we were. ” I handed the book to Amy.“Oh my God, that does look like me!” Amy exclaimed. “Wait, how's this?” she said, sweeping her long hair back and holding it behind her head.“Yes, now that I can see your whole face, you look amazingly like her, just as pretty,” I said.“You said you guys dated and were lovers. Did you really care about her?”“Debbie said she wasn't in love with me when we were together. She knew I was developing some pretty strong feelings for her, but she told me that she couldn't. Down below, on the bottom path, she noticed two lovers strolling, enjoying time together. She followed them with her eyes, enjoying being unseen. When they stopped, she sensed their arousal. As they embraced, she looked away, only to find her vision dragged back to the unfolding scene. The couple were in a deep embrace, their passion clearly aroused. The woman on the bench pulled her coat more tightly around her, as if protecting herself from the slight chill in the morning air. In doing so,. He would look so strong hoisting the b**st of a tree onto the roof of our car.Those cheery holidays are gone now. After Mom died Dad just didn't see the point in celebrating. I glanced around the room. If Mom were here there would be stockings over the fireplace right now, and she'd probably be filling them with goodies as I dreamed quietly in my bed wondering what Santa had brought me this year. Only now the room was devoid of any holiday cheer. The one reminder of the season was the soft.