It was one of the few times I appreciated Rida’s sheer bloody-mindedness. When she wanted to be a bitch she could take on Mike Tyson for ten rounds ...nd still come out smiling, I was sure.Without my parents or Rida, I thought the plan would die. I was wrong. There seemed to be a general consensus that I should have a ‘proper vacation’ in the forests and mountains of my homeland and with me along, Zainab would be properly chaperoned.When Zainab and I heard the news, we both smiled and I whispered. Other materials were unloaded by Bob, pallets of ply wood, drywall, pipe, and wire. Another small dumpster was sitting in one of the parking places.I started making the run to the college. Students were arriving and moving into their dorms. HR and I were giving the same welcoming speech three times a day. Patti and I were busy doing photo IDs, making up new access cards and reactivating old ones. Local businesses were posting part-time help wanted notices on the bulletin board. We researched. “Those girls from last night tried to corner me in the parking lot,” she told him. “I threatened to kick their asses if they bothered you. I hope that was all right.”Brock laughed out loud.“Oh, it’s all right,” he said. “But I don’t think it scared them too much. In fact I think one or both of them might be asleep in your bed right now.”He filled Melanie in on his late night visitors.“I should have called you,” he said. “But I didn’t want to take the chance of waking you. It was almost 3 am. He hadn't meant to bring up painful memories. "Lilith…" James spoke, "I'm sorry, I didn't –" It's okay, James," the raven-haired woman cut him off. She wiped away a tear. "I can talk about Sumis. Four thousand years should be enough time to move on, right?" She feigned a smile, but her sorrow was evident."You loved him." It wasn't a question.Lilith was surprised by the blunt statement - and though she didn't say anything immediately, her face told James he'd guessed right. After a few moments,.