The four youngsters sat around for half an hour listening to music and talking about various matters. The subject of their strange family was not brou...ht up, although it was on everybody's mind. That was too serious a matter to discuss while they were having a good time. Frank knew that there would time enough for it before the wedding was consummated.It was fun to sit around swapping stories. Gloria was an especially good raconteur and soon had Gerald and Donna fascinated by her stories of. ’ Willow grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down. Tom wondered if her hesitant and modest behavior might be just another well-rehearsed fictional character, but the tug on his heart felt just as real as the quirky tug on her braid. Tears welled up in her eyes, ready to spill over. They shimmered like the stream. ‘What’s the matter?’ Upset and unable to look at his face, Willow stared at his hand, still clutched in hers. She traced over his knuckles, between his fingers, and wrestled within. Danielle looked at our food. “How long has the food been here?”I shrugged and said, “A little while. I thought it would be rude to eat without you.”She smiled. “Well, I’m here now. Dig in.”There really wasn’t much to dig in to. The food looked more like an attempt at art than a meal, but that didn’t stop me from gobbling it down. Danielle must have been pretty hungry too because she was done about two bites after I was.She finished her wine and I finished my tea. William stopped by to ask if we. That soft stroke of humiliation as you wait, anticipating whatis to follow. The whispered chuckles of those watching you, you wondering which I am.You blush a little, conscious you are wet, embarrassed that this whole charade isarousing.As you sit down at your drink again, you notice a slip of paper and a twenty poundnote, the paper with a hotel name and a room number on it, both placed on top of anenvelope marked "open on arrival". You finish your drink hurriedly and gather yourthings,.