"Dan, how could you! She is only four years old. She can't possibly understand this whole thing." Kim cried."Kim, just shut up. You brought this on yo...rself. I've told Megan that Brian is her father and it was your decision. And by God, it was your decision the first time you spread your legs for that asshole." Oh Dan, you just don't understand why I did what I did or how little Brian means to me." I guess I don't and I really don't care to know at this time. All I know is YOUR child is. As she gently massaged my foot Ifelt any tension being released and by the time she had done my rightfoot, I had entered a dreamlike state of mind. "Relax my little flower,"she breathed into my ear, "let your mind empty and prepare to bond withyour new family." I sank deeper into the scented water and as mybreathing slowed I felt at total peace."Wake up sleepy," said Akiko whilst stroking my forehead. I had no ideahow long I had been asleep but from the wrinkled skin on my fingertips, Isupposed. She told me that her name was Hazel and that like me, she was many years younger than her husband. We had something in common. I liked Hazel very much and it seemed that she liked me.We did our duty and danced and chatted with the boring old dignitaries, pretending to be interested in their conversations. Hazel and I looked over at each other several times as if we were giving each other moral support. Sometime during that evening, she slipped me her phone number which I was pleased to receive.. "What?" Shannon inquired sweetly. "I didn't hear you." I said, uh..." I looked away."Would you like to go out? With me?" I finished, blushing."Ah- no thank you" the response returned promptly, and perhaps a little automatically.I turned away, ears burning."Wait, I didn't mean it like that- I'm sorry," she added quickly. I don't imagine the rejection had really set in yet, I still couldn't believe I had actually asked her. But my brain was slowly catching up to reality, and it wasn't a very.