Our meals were every bit as good as I had promised. The wine -- she chose one bottled by a friend of hers -- was perfectly matched. By the time we wer... done, the candle on the table was casting an ethereal glow on her face. Her eyes sparkled and her rings glittered as she waved them about, punctuating her conversation. We spoke of Rome and New York, of art and the theater. I laughed at her small jokes, laughter that came more naturally than usual for I found her genuinely witty.We walked out of. They didn't shake at all but were perfectly contained by her bra and woollen top that she had on. Her skirt was on the short side and showed her legs off to perfection. Her dark hair, set in ringlets flowed around her head and over her shoulders.For a moment I thought she may have seen the smile spread across my lips or heard me sigh, as she looked directly at me after ordering her drink.I think I must have blushed because her eyes attached directly to mine and before I knew it, she was right. For some reason the offer angered me. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that all I was going to get was lip service so I begged off. Actually, I lied. I told them I had to have a procedure relating to my legs. They accepted my excuse, and, as it seemed to me, gladly. Was I being cynical, well yes, I suppose I was.And then, Ronald Bradshaw-Cord was born: six pounds four ounces and healthy. Abigail had me on the phone for half an hour from her hospital bed. She insisted that I come up and visit.. “What I really came here for was to pay some rent in advance for a friend of my Granny’s. I’m not even sure about her last name, all I ever heard Granny call her was, Val. I’m guessing her name is Valerie.”“Yes, Valerie Jamison. She works for Miss Mabel.”“Yes, she’s the one. Granny gave me a blank check and asked me to bring it by and pay a year in advance. She wasn’t sure if you’d be willing to give a discount if we pay cash that far in advance, but she asked me to find out.” I lied about the.