She took it, kissed him on the cheek, came up to me and said: "Let's go!"Ralph and Sarah waved as we left in my car. After driving a couple hundred fe...t down the road, she scooted over to me and said, "You were wonderful, Steven." ... And, the Oscar goes to, Emily Bradshaw, for an actress in a leading role." Do we have time to go to your place and fuck?" she asked."Why don't we go back to that same Victoria's Secret and find something that will pass the 'parent test?' If we have time we can. Dunno if your mother would think anything of me walking with you."Melinda nodded. "Hey, maybe you can answer me something before you go."Richie paused, then nodded once. "Fire away." What's with all this insight suddenly? I don't mean just now, I mean like the past two days or so. You never sounded this smart before." What, I sounded like a retard before?" No, I didn't mean that!" Melinda snapped. "I mean ... well you never said anything that would really help. Shit, that didn't come out right,. He realized she was the beautiful young woman that he’d felt such sympathy for and so protective toward… she had seemed so young and vulnerable… and lonely. She’d had no other relatives to comfort her. Maria continued. ‘I started following you just to see you. And I would go into the cantina to watch you. But I could tell from the way you and your partner left with different women each time you were there… and sometimes with just one woman… that neither of you were looking for love. I finally. However, both of us were reassured that there was some first-hand information that you were fairly capable of handling whatever would be facing you. That being the case, we are sure that the last few months have been pretty hard for you.”My head was still processing what I had just heard, but regrettably that didn’t stop my mouth from responding.“Yes, I have to admit that sometimes it has been a bit hard.”As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I understood what I had just said. I had never.