Jeanne took the front page and variety sections. I read the sports. For several minutes we ate our toast, sipped our juice and coffee and read the new...paper in silence. We weren't ignoring each other, on the contrary, we were very aware of each others presence. We were a comfortable married couple. We didn't have to talk. We could enjoy each other in relaxed silence. Jeanne set her section of the paper down and smiled at me. I smiled back. Jeanne said, “I've missed this. I've missed you.” “I've. She was really good, teaching me how to determine which way to turn your head, so you don’t bump noses. She went into a lot of detail about how to french kiss, demonstrating over and over, until I did it right.We heard mom pull in the driveway, so Susan took my hand off her covered breast as we got out, dried off and met her inside.“What have you two been doing today?” she asked.“We drove around for a while then decided it was too hot to do anything except get in the pool,” Susan said.“Mom,” I. Crane, I'm going to bat your brains all over this yard. My mother named me Jeremy, and I am so sick of being called Sir and Mr. I'd like to crown the next person that does so, starting with you. You hear me?" Yes sir, I do," I said dead pan, getting a laugh and breaking the tension.It started to cool off and get dark, so Sherrie asked me to join them inside for a piece of homemade apple pie she'd baked the night before. Who was I to deny myself such essential sustenance? It took a few minutes,. “We’re trapped,” Maddie said flatly. “There’s no way out.” She fell to her knees in front of the rubble that blocked the chamber entrance and covered her brother’s body.“Not necessarily so,” Fry said. He staggered as he stood and Keith steadied him.“You’re woozy from the blood loss,” Keith said. “There’s water in my pack.” Fry took the offered canteen and moved into the inner chamber. “What are you thinking?” Keith said. He picked the second backpack out of the rubble and dragged behind Fry.