Everyone was thereto help celebrate my twenty-fifth birthday party. I looked around as theair drained from my lungs. I saw my parents and my grandmoth...r. I saw myuncle and two of my spinster aunts. Everyone was ready to shout HappyBirthday until they got a glance at your's truly.I think the whole room got quiet as they craned their necks to see me. AsI walked over on my tiptoes in my pretty ballerina outfit with my armsspread at the ends of my tutu. I heard comments muttered about my hairand. Robert had agreed with that analysis. He valued his friendship with Abby and he would never plot against her wishes simply for the sake of his little brother. While they traveled down the road from Northfair, Robert and Lizzy tried to keep up a conversation with the other two travelers. Sometimes Thomas would pitch in and at other times Abby would, but she was careful not to speak to Thomas directly unless she could make some snappish remark. Abby’s icy attitude toward Thomas disheartened her. They had all kinds of motivations. A favorite washubby was too macho or some such. Paybacks was another, see howthe 'other half' lives stuff, that kind of thing."Sheila asked, "did any of the wives actually try it?" Boy," I said, "I had a few that were awesome. One in New York,Elaine I think, was really into it. She said hubby was reallypretty, even as a guy and she really wanted to see if she coulddo it. Wives are uncanny at this stuff. She talked him into alittle bedroom game stuff to start. . touch her. She knows I want her. It'll be good this way: Harry won't be so jealous." What should I do? Chris was sure I wanted it with Harry. Because that's precisely what I'd told her. I had to follow through: what would be my objection? Would we be in the same room? Would I see Chris and Sheila... ? "You know what?" said Sheila, suddenly. Chris looked at her. I still just sat there like an idiot. Sheila went on: "I think Donna had a different idea: I think she wanted you, Chris." Neither of.