I’ve been trying to kick the habit, but Alexis has shredded my nerves and I need to calm down. I make my way up the metal fire exit stairs and open ...he squeaky door onto the fire escape which doubles as a smoking area. Luckily it is a beautiful sunny evening, which lifts my mood a little. I light my cigarette and inhale deeply, taking in the flavour of harsh tobacco momentarily before exhaling. I curse my lack of will power, telling myself I really need to quit smoking one day soon. The. ”“Have you talked to her about it?”“No. I think both of us are just sort of ignoring that to avoid complicating things. Why?”“I guess I’m just wondering at which point she becomes your girlfriend, you know, de facto.”“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”“Has she?”“I have NO idea,” I replied, suddenly concerned.“I think you better find out before you wind up in a VERY bad place.”“I think you’re right.”October 18, 1982, McKinley, Ohio“I think we need to talk,” I said to Sandy when she got into bed. On Thursday Chrissy was watching TV in the lounge when I got in from training. She gave me a cheerful ‘Hi, had a good day?’ and a big smile when I walked in. I smiled back ‘A very good day thank you. Where’s your Mum?’ ‘She went for a bath, she played tennis today for the first time in ages and she aches a bit.’ Chrissy turned the TV off and turned on the sofa to talk to me ‘Alex…can I ask a huge favour of you please?’ ‘Sure’ I nodded, ‘I’ll help if I can.’ ‘You know that you and Mum arranged. " You here to work, or just passing through?" Martin asked looking at the bike."Actually, I'm on a long vacation. I've been working on oil platforms and oil fields and up in Alaska on the pipeline and need a break. This seems like a good place to have it," I said smiling at them."You see Glenda, he just looks a little rough, he's a nice young man," Martin reassured a blushing Glenda.A little Ford Ranger pickup truck pulled up in front of my truck and stopped. A wiry little man hopped out of the.