She smiled as I walked past her and into the bar. A few minutes later, she wandered into the bar and took a seat on the bar stool next to me. At firs... she didn’t say anything. She stared at the television over the bar. “So what brings you to the bar?” I casually asked. “Boyfriend issues?” “What brings you to the bar?” she replied, “Wife issues?” So the conversation got off to a rocky start. I wasn’t there to pick anyone up. I just wanted to kiss some time. “Not really,” I replied. “She is on. I went red at this being said in front of Kate. The evening was much as the one before with Auntie choosing the most deadly programmes and being unwilling to let Kate or I see what we wanted. I was bored. Another day arrived and it was sunny. Things were looking up until Auntie reminded me that she wanted me to stay in my room when her friends arrived. I was so bored I offered to do some shopping for her, just to get out and do something. After lunch her friends started to arrive and I went. "What time is Thanksgiving dinner, tomorrow?" I asked.There was dead silence, and then Beth whacked me on the back of my head."What? We have to know what time to get there," I complained.I grabbed her hand, and led her to my apartment. Right now, that seemed safer than facing my mom, after I'd turned the tables on her.I had to say, I'd missed my friend. We were both eager to get to my bedroom. We left clothes strewn throughout my apartment. Beth burst out laughing when she saw my thong. By the. Fiona and I waited for the door to close, and the elf – my mother-in-law – slumped slightly in her seat, finally relaxing a little. The two of us sat for a moment, just staring at each other; I hadn’t the first clue where to even start with the conversation I knew we needed to have.“Alistair’s n-not here,” I stuttered anxiously. “He’ll be back tomorrow.”She nodded. “I admit, I’m somewhat ... relieved, really.”I raised an eyebrow in surprise.“I just ... this is ... awkward,” she finished,.