Don't forget Betty." Susie frowned as she stooped to retrieve the dark-haired doll she'd set on the ground before entering the twisted tubes of the gi...antic gerbil habitat. Donna took the little girl's hand. They walked across the park, toward their car. On the way, Susie dropped her doll. Neither she, Donna, nor Matt noticed. Matt wanted to follow them, but he was afraid to do so. The woman might not welcome his company. She might think he was some sort of creep, stalking her or, worse, Susie.. Jean threw and Jim swung and fouled off a rising pitch that was in on his hands."Looked like a curve," Charlie said as he retrieved the ball and threw it back."Does that sometimes," Jean said with a smile. "Not my fault. This is farther than I'm used to." She looked down at her grip. "It's probably how I hold it left-handed." She thought about it and frowned. "I turn my hand over from this side so it spins different, the other way." Hot damn," said the coach. "Let's get you a uniform; no,. After fifteen seconds of silence, while Darlene fought to be able to continue ... she exploded ... Mom ... You DIRTY ... ROTTEN FUCKING SLUT!!! How the FUCK could you do that to Dad? It took me forever to get him to talk but he told me that he found the same thing that I did and knew that his life was over. He told me that he’d juggled things so he could make it home a day early to the woman he’s loved forever. He said he’d missed you and planned to take you out to dinner. He said he walked. I kissed her as she sat next to me. "You're a bright treat to my day, Merritt." Sweet talker," Merritt whispered before kissing my cheek. "Why do you look glum?" Rayz and I found Commander Tarry unconscious. He is in Medical."Merritt shook her head as if to clear it. Her normal instinct would have been to question me, but she didn't. Merritt's happy face fell and turned morose."Tarry hasn't been returning calls and he missed a shift yesterday, so Rayz asked me to visit the Chief's quarters with.