“No, man, really, you are already repaying me. You cannot know how unhappy Ashley had been, before you came along. She told you about a couple of he... ex boyfriends, right? And, you met Tim, right? Hell, Tim was the pick of the litter! A couple of times, I had to have a sit down with some schmuck, and let him know what was not acceptable behavior when with my baby sister, and then explain consequences of failing to meet performance standards. Once or twice I had to provide a little in-service to. However, when she told me it would be a big Lawler family affair, I demurred.“Let me think about it,” I said.The next day, Brigette called me and invited me to spend Thanksgiving with her adoptive family in Boston.“I’d really like them to get to know you, Johanna,” she said. “Of course, I want to see you too.”I called Roberta back, and told her that I’d decided to spend Thanksgiving with her daughter instead of her. She was disappointed but made me promise to tell her all about it. I took a bus. 'Jamie! Look at me now!' she almost barked this out and my eyes flew tohers. 'Answer my question.''No, I mean yes, I mean, I don't know.' I felt my blood draining away from my face and I shivered but I couldn'ttake my eyes away from hers. She held my gaze and I felt whatever selfcontrol I had left drain away. Her eyes seemed on fire and I felt astrange sense of power passing from me to her.'Jamie, well we are confused then aren't we? Well, Jamie, let me tellyou what I think you are. I think. Adam smiled back - “Hello Mrs Smith” his eyes danced over her body, wrapped in Ivory silk.The room smelt lovely, her IPod was playing Toni Braxton – and naturally, he made a quip about her taste in music. She responded, as he knew she would, by calling him an ‘old fart’. Within an instant there were no more nerves, no awkwardness – just as they imagined it would be - as it had been from their first chat.However - the air was electric.