Chapter 10

The Boathouse

October 29th 1990

The Richards Boathouse

Cape Mae, New Jersey

"Rufus we need to tack the sail!" Alison called over the heavy winds. Looking at the sky she knew it was going to start down pouring any minute. "Hurry!"

Rufus ran down to the bow of the boat and noticed the change of wind, and it nearly blew him over. "There isn't enough time!" he yelled back. He quickly started to untie the ropes. "We need to jibe!" he turned around making sure she was paying attention. He saw her nod and he pushed the jib across the boat. "Jibe-ho," he yelled, watching the pole and sail switch directions.

Alison caught the pole just as it started to down pour. She knotted the foresail to the opposite side of the mainsail. She looked up to the boom and made sure the sail was flat. "And who's idea was this?" Alison yelled across the boat as she tried to see through the rain.

"You wanted to sail up the coast for dinner!" he yelled back laughing, checking the mast as he walked down the boat. "I told you the waters were too choppy!"

Running her hands over her face she rolled her eyes. "It wasn't suppose to rain!" she shivered. "It's freezing!" she jumped up and down.

He turned them from the rain trying to shield her from the ocean spray. "You and your lobster!"

"It sounded good!" The rain dripped from her face as she turned toward the shoreline. "We need to hurry and drop the mainsail. We're coming into shore too fast."

Rufus looked off into the distance and he could see the dock covered in fog. "I don't see the navigation light from the boathouse."

She looked toward the top of the boathouse and noticed it was dark. "Oh no," she turned toward the helm. "No one's been at the boathouse all summer, my father must of never turned it on."

"Blind drive," he worked his way back up to the bow. "I'm going to throw the anchor out now. We need to slow this thing down."

"I can't see Rufus," the rain pelted down on her back. "Between the fog and the rain," she yelled. "I'm never going to be able to dock this."

"Yes you can," he picked up the anchor and threw it out as far as he could. "I'll guide you!"

She took a hold of the steering wheel and tried her best to maneuver the boat on the course of the wind.

"Stay left!" Rufus yelled. "Left!"

She held tightly onto the wheel letting the wind drag them to shore. "How close are we?" she started to pull back.

"A couple hundred feet," he yelled. "Drop the back anchor!"

Alison locked the steering into place and quickly turned and threw the back anchor off the stern, immediately feeling the boat slow.

"You got it…you got it," Rufus called again. "Hurry and make a sharp right," he looked at the sail. "Now!"

She quickly unlocked the steering and turned the wheel to the right watching the boat slowly turn into the wind and come to a stop mere inches from the dock. "Whoa," she laughed to herself.

Rufus quickly roped the boat to the dock and set the anchor. Alison locked the steering and closed the helm. She quickly walked toward the bow and smiled ear to ear. "Thank goodness for those docking and mooring lessons my father made us take."

Rufus laughed and helped her down onto the dock. "It must be some of that birthday luck."

"Maybe," she laughed, hearing thunder rolling in the distance. "We better get inside."

"I thought you wanted to go to your parents," he looked at her.

She shook her head, "I don't want to drive up the coast in this. We'll wait till it passes. Besides they're not expecting me till tomorrow anyways. You know my mom. We'll knock her all of schedule coming too early."

They ran up the porch and she grabbed her bag she left on the chair. Fishing out her keys she quickly unlocked the door and walked inside. "Mmm…" she smiled. "I missed this place."

Rufus looked around noticing it looked different than he remembered. "Looks good," he nodded. "Your father did a good job."

"Can you turn on the light?" she asked, dropping her bag by the door.

Rufus turned and felt along the wall for the switch. He flicked it up and nothing happened. "Uh-oh," he laughed, flicking it up and down. "No power."

"What!" she went over to the side table and tried to turn on the lamp. "Oh no!"

"The rain must have knocked it out," he shrugged.

'What are we going to do now?"

"I could….build us a fire," he walked into the living room. "We need to get warm somehow."

She sighed, "I really didn't want to go to my parent's tonight. I wanted to stay here with you because once we get to my house it's going to be sofa city for you."

"Sofa city," he laughed. "What did your mom say when you said I was coming?"

"She kinda doesn't know about us yet," she bit her lip.

"What!" he looked at her. "Al we've been going out for months now. You never told her?

She shrugged her shoulders. "Between being gone with you, and school…dance. I haven't even talked to my mom more than a few times. I didn't go home all summer."

He tried to gauge her reaction. "Is there a reason you're not telling her? She doesn't like me does she?"

"What? Rufus no of course she does…she does. It's just….I don't know. I've kinda like just being in our own little world in Boston. You know how my mother is. How she hovers. If she knew I was dating someone she would probably move in next door."

Rufus laughed, "Good thinking, I still have time to escape home you know."

"Don't even think about it," she shivered. "Now, where is that fire you promised me?"

"Do we have any dry clothes?" he turned around, gathering some wood.

"In the car….outside," she sighed.

"Wonderful," he laughed, taking off his shirt.

Alison walked down to the linen closet and pulled out some extra blankets and pillows. Bringing them back into the living room she started to lay them out in front of the fire. She watched as he shoved newspaper under the wood stack and then reached up onto the mantle and grabbed the matches. "Expert woodsmen," she laughed.

"Nah," he chuckled. "Doesn't take much to build a fire. "

She watched as the fire started out small as he blew on it. "I think this wood is old," he laughed.

"Doesn't take much huh?"

"Shut up," he kept blowing until it got bigger.

She rested her chin on her knees and looked outside. The sky was almost black now, making it incredibly dark in the boathouse. She shivered again and inched her way closer to the fire.

Rufus turned around and saw her shiver. "Al, you're all wet," he brushed away her wet hair from her face. Take those off."

She looked at him her eyes traveling down his bare chest. "Your pants are all wet too," she shook her eye brows.

"I can take care of that," he laughed. He unbuckled his belt and pushed his wet pants off and tossed them aside. He looked at her for a moment. "Come here."

"What," she smiled.

"Take this off," he started to unbutton her shirt. "It's all wet."

She watched as he started to take her shirt off. Her breathing started to quicken as she felt similar longings starting to stir within her. He pushed her shirt past her shoulders and started to kiss her neck. "Rufus…" she whispered.

"Mmm…." He kissed her cheek.

"How…how do you feel about me?" she bit her lip looking down at him.

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. Cupping her cheek he looked in her eyes. "I love you," he said softly.

Her eyes met his and she smiled, she had waited a long time to hear that. "I love you too."

He smiled back and played with her hand for a moment.

Alison took a deep breath. "I'm…I'm ready," she looked at him.

Rufus studied her face for a moment before he realized what she meant. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "We had a wonderful dinner. Almost died on the way home," she laughed. "We have the house to ourselves….a cozy fire…it's a few hours before my birthday. I think it's perfect."

He started to rub her shoulders. "I'm a little bit nervous," he laughed.

"You!" she shook her head. "What do you have to be nervous about?"

He touched her cheek. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," she shook her head. "We'll just…go slowly alright?"

"Of course," he kissed her. "As slow as you want."

"Okay," she breathed.

"Okay," he smiled as he kissed her. He looked at her once more before he slowly kissed her cheek and then her chin. He pushed gently so she laid on her back. "Let's get these wet clothes off of you Mmm?"

She chewed on her bottom lip watching him undress her. She was glad that he had already seen her naked, it took some of the awkwardness away. She just wanted to focus on her and Rufus being together and nothing else.

He slowly undid her pants and started to ease them down her legs, finding it hard from the wetness. "This is killing me here," he laughed. "It's taking me longer than I want to undress you."

She laughed and helped to push her pants down, kicking them aside. "Come here," she inched her finger.

Rufus crawled over her, placing an arm and a leg on each side of her. "Mmmm?"

She pointed to her lips. "Kiss me."

He lower his lips onto hers and kissed her soft and slowly. He moved his right hand down the side of her torso stopping at the edge of her panties. He massaged her hip for a moment before he started to lower them. His kisses moved from her lips to her neck and slowly to her chest.

Alison's eyes closed, the familiar feel of Rufus's lips on her body sent her tumbling on a downward spiral. His warm hands tugged her panties down past her thighs and he soon discarded them to the pile of ever growing clothes. She felt his lips traveling further, kissing the inside of her thighs. "Rufus…."

"Mmm…" he grinned, slowly darting his tongue out to taste her skin.

"Nothing," she opened her eyes looking down at him.

He sat up and pulled her with him. He kissed her shoulder as his hand moved behind her and unhooked her bra in one swift movement.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you've done that before," she laughed.

Rufus rolled his eyes laughing and tossing her bra on the opposite side of the blanket. He looked at her in the darkness, the only light emitting was the fire directly behind her. It casted a glow on her golden blonde hair and Rufus moved his hands through it. "You look beautiful right now," he looked at her. "Really pretty."

"Thank you." She looked at him and moved her hand to the waistband of his boxers. They loomed there a moment before she started to push them down, her hands shaking softly.

Rufus looked down and noticed her hands shaking a bit. He clasped them with his own. "You okay?"

She looked at him, "Little nervous."

"It's just me," he slowly pushed his boxers down with her hands.

She looked into his eyes and moved her hand to softly stroke him up and down. She bit her bottom lip as she watched his eyes close and his breath turn uneven.

"Al…" he moaned, leaning his forehead against hers.

"What?"

He blindly kissed her lips, "Thank God we don't have to stop."

"I know," she arched her leg so he could drop in-between them.

He moved his lips to her chest again and kissed around her breasts before taking a nipple in his mouth and gently sucking on it.

"Mmm…." Alison whimpered as she arched her back into him. "Rufus?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you…do you have a…a condom?" she looked at him.

"Right…right," he shook his head. Leaning over he picked up his pants and pulled his wallet out.

"Prepared?" she laughed.

"Always," he pulled it out and threw his wallet back. He quickly ripped open the packet, tossing it aside. "You wanna do it?"

She looked down at the condom in his hands.

"Come here," he took her hand.

She sat up a little and watched as he took her hand. He placed the condom in her hand and pinched the top as she slowly eased it down. She held her hand at his base a few seconds before looking at him.

"Thanks."

She leaned up further and kissed him, pressing her body against his.

Feeling her body tight against his own spurred Rufus on and he moved his hand between her legs. He could barely take it anymore, but wanted to make sure she was ready. He laid her back down and looked into her eyes

"Tell…tell me what to do," she looked at him.

"Shhh…" he breathed against her lips. "This is about you tonight." He gently slipped his finger inside her, and used his thumb to caress her. He watched as she closed her eyes again and her stomach quickly moved up and down. He inserted another finger and moved a bit faster against her.

"Rufus…" she muttered. "Oh."

Seeing her body writhe under him cause his pulse to start racing. He removed his fingers and ran both his hands up her body and then kissed her soundly on the mouth. "Ready?"

She opened her eyes and shook her head yes. "Slowly…."

He gradually parted her legs and moved between them. He lowered himself on her and whispered in her ear. "If anything hurts we'll stop. Just tell me."

"Okay."

He gripped her thigh and slowly moved toward her entrance. He held himself above her so not to put weight on her. He eased his tip in watching to make sure she wasn't in any pain. He leaned back down to kiss her as he pushed himself further in.

"Mm," Alison moved under him.

"You okay?" he pulled back.

She bit her lip. "I'm okay, I'm….okay," she gritted her teeth a bit. Her mind was reeling a mile a minute and she couldn't believe it was actually happening. She held her breath as he entered her. She felt some pressure and then a lot when he was fully in her. "Oh," she bit her lip as she held her breath. Her hand slowly balled into a fist at her side.

"I'm hurting you," Rufus realized, seeing her face, he pulled out. "Let's stop."

"No," she held onto his arm. "I don't want to. I…I want to do this."

"Al," he touched her cheek. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she nodded. "It's normal. I'm fine."

He looked at her for a few seconds before he leaned down to kiss her again. He dragged his hands down her side and started to massage her between her legs again. He slowly drew his lips down her neck, tasting her skin. Taking his time, he could feel himself throbbing against her. He looked down and slowly parted her legs again. This time he entered her little by little letting her adjust to his length. "Better?"

"Mmhmm," she kissed him. She felt the intense pressure again, but it slowly started to ease with each tiny thrust he made.

He watched her facial expressions as he slowly moved in and out of her.
"Al," he moaned.

She took a few deep breaths trying to stay relaxed, knowing if she was tense it would only hurt more. She concentrated on his hand that was slowly rubbing her in sync with his thrusts. On instinct her back arched into him and he took her leg wrapping it around his waist. As he did, she took him in completely, causing tingles to go up her spine. "Rufus…" she moaned.

He opened his eyes for the first time, not knowing if that was a cry of pleasure or pain. "You okay?"

"Yes…yes," she licked her lips. "Don't stop."

His thrusts soon became faster and more direct. Their hands moved around each others body, learning what each other felt like, and what they liked. "Feel good?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yes," she said breathlessly and she started to move her hips with his. The pain of what was happening slowly started to ebb much to her delight. She was surprised at how her body took over and responded to his. She always wondered what it would be like and how it would feel, and now it was finally happening. She loved how gentle he was with her, and how his hands softly moved down her body, touching her, loving her. She was so glad it was with Rufus, the only man she really ever loved.

He pushed himself up on his elbows before grabbing her hips and directing his thrusts to her center. "Alison….' He breathed. "I'm…I'm close…" He was surprised that he could barely hold out.

She nodded as she moved a little faster. Waves of pleasure started to course through her. She quietly started to whimper as he made the last few thrusts in her. She felt her toes curl under and her hand griped the edges of the pillow next to her head. "Ruuufus…" she panted, feeling slightly out of breath.

Rufus moaned, tilting his head back as he came. He said her name over and over as he slowly pulled all the way out of her then quickly back in her one last time.

Alison held him between her thighs as he collapsed on her. She could feel his heavy breathing on her stomach as it quickly rose up and down.

"Baby," he kissed her stomach as he laid between her legs.

Alison looked up at the ceiling trying to catch her breath. She watched as the flickers from the fire danced around creating a dreamy like atmosphere. She could feel Rufus's heart beating against her thigh, the feeling of him resting between her legs was almost too much for her. She put her hand down and started to run her hands through his hair at the base of his neck.

He kissed the curve of her hip and looked up at her. "Happy Birthday," he told her.

She looked over at the clock. "It isn't my birthday yet," she smiled.

She pushed himself downward so he was lying next to her. "Close enough," he kissed her. He ran his hand down her body. "How do you feel?"

"Mmm…good," she smiled. "Out of breath….but relaxed."

"So…it didn't hurt…too much?" he was still worried.

"I'm fine," she snuggled up next to him. "It actually didn't hurt as much as I was expecting. Then…it started to feel good," she blushed a little.

"It did feel pretty good," he smiled. "We just need to work on our timing a bit, and I think it'll be pretty close to perfect."

She kissed him again. "Mmm…you taste like sea salt," she laughed.

He thought for a moment," I got a way to take care of that."

"You do?"

"Let's go upstairs and take a shower," he grinned.

"It's pitch black up there."

"You never took a shower in the dark before?"

"No," she eyed him. "But I have a feeling tonight's the first time for a lot of things."

He grinned and stood up pulling her with him. "You want to light a candle or something so we don't try and kill ourselves again."

She reached down for her shirt when she felt Rufus pull her back up. "Leave them there," he whispered in her ear.

She smiled mischievously and then grabbed a crystal candelabra off the dining room table and stuck a candle stick in it. Rufus grabbed the matches off the mantle and lit it. Grabbing her hand he led her upstairs. "Remember when your dad caught us kissing upstairs in your room when we were like fifteen?"

"He was so upset," she laughed. "My mom came in my room that night giving me the talk."

He laughed walking into the bathroom. "I don't think I've ever been so afraid of your dad. Well that is unless he finds out what we just did on his floor."

"Hush!" she laughed. Setting down the candle she turned on the shower letting it get warm. "We're really not going to be able to see anything in there."

"No," he smiled. "But we can feel our way around."

She stuck her hand in the water feeling it. "Come on, Humphrey."

Carrie drove her car up and parked in front of the boathouse. "Did mom say where she left all the linens?"

Anna looked at her sister. "I think she said some where in the hall closet by the back staircase and some were in the study."

"She would make us drive all the way here in the freaking rain," she sighed. "Just because it's Al's twentieth birthday. Well excuse me I didn't get some special party for my twentieth."

"Jealous much," Anna laughed opening her door.

"She's always been the favorite. Dad has her up on some pedestal."

Anna shook her head as she followed Carrie up the walk. "Oh get over it, how old are you 10?"

Carrie rolled her eyes, grabbing her key out of her purse. "I'm just glad at the end of the day I can go home to my own place and not see mom and dad fawning all over her."

"Open the door," she pushed her.

Placing the key in the door she pushed it open. "Let's just hurry up. I'll go in the study and you hit the hall closet." He went to turn on the lights and noticed they weren't working. "What the hell!"

"What?"

"The lights don't work!" she huffed. "You have got to be kidding me!" She walked further into the house. "How the hell are we suppose to see anything," she fumbled her way into the living room.

Anna got half way into the living room when she smelled smoke. Looking around the corner she saw the fireplace alit. "Carrie!" she whispered. "Carrie!"

"What!"

"Shhh…." she grabbed her arm. "Someone's in the house…." she whispered.

Carrie turned around following her gaze seeing the fire.

"Someone's living in the house! Maybe it's a homeless person! Call the police!" Anna started to make her way back toward the door.

"Wait!" she grabbed her hand. "Look," she pointed to all the pillows and blankets laid out by the fire. Walking further into the room she noticed all the clothes thrown about. "Wait a minute."

"What?" Anna followed her. She slowly walked around the couch and noticed Alison's bag sitting by the back door. "That's Al's bag. What's she doing here alone?"

Carrie bent over and picked up Rufus's boxers and Alison's bra. "She's not," Carrie sneered.

"What!" Anna's eyes grew wide. "No way!"

"That little tramp!" She threw the clothes on the ground. "Tries to act all innocent! I knew it! I bet dad's not going to leave her the house now! Not when he finds out she's using it for some….some sex house!"

"Carrie come on," Anna looked at her. "She's not a baby. And if I remember correctly you were doing a lot worse at her age."

"Shut up," she rummaged through the clothes.

"What are you doing?" Anna looked at her.

"I want to know who it is!" she picked up Rufus's pants when his wallet fell to the ground in a thud.

They both looked down.

Carrie bent over and picked it up smiling. "Mmm….lets see." She opened the wallet when 2 condoms dropped out. "Ugh….classy."

Anna laughed thinking It was funny, secretly happy for her sister. "Who…who is it?"

Carrie pulled his license out and moved toward the fire to see better. "No way!" she was stunned. "No freaking way!"

"Who is it," Anna moved closer.

Carrie turned the license over. "Rufus Humphrey."

"Shut up!" Anna pulled the license from her hands and looked at it. "But…I thought…."

"I bet you they never even broke up and she's off living with him in Boston or something…living some double life!"

"Oh stop….you watch too much Days of our Lives," she grabbed his wallet and put his license back in. "I think it's nice they're back together. I liked Rufus."

"He's a pot head," Carried rolled her eyes. "Al could do so much better. I don't know what she ever saw in him. I can't believe this!"

Anna was just about to ask where they were when she heard giggling come from upstairs.

"They're still in the house!" she ran toward the stairs.

"Carrie no," Anna pulled on her arm. "Leave them alone. Come on."

Carrie pulled her toward the stairs and slowly walked half way up looking through the rungs of the staircase. She noticed a low light flickering from the bathroom and the sound of the shower running. "They're in the shower together!" she stomped her foot.

"Carrie come down from there! Let's get the stuff and go," Anna pleaded.

Carrie looked at her for a few seconds. "You know what? Fine. It will be much more fun messing with them tomorrow," she grinned. "I can't wait to make her uncomfortable."

Anna started to walk away. "You know what? Al has always supported you in all your crummy relationships. And she came all the way home for you when you broke up with Landon. Remember when I was studying aboard and couldn't be there? Mom told me she laid in bed with you and kept you company.

"Oh so what!" she snapped, opening the linen closet pulling out a few table cloths. "She still annoys me. Her and her stupid art and her stupid dance and whatever else she does."

"God you're jealous," Anna walked down the hall to the study. "John was right."

"Oh what does John know?" she followed her. "He's fifteen."

"More than you think." She opened a cabinet, feeling her way around finding a few placemats and cloth napkins. "Besides I don't know why you even care if she's seeing Rufus. It's not your life," she closed the cabinet, walking out of the room.

"Cause he's stupid," she walked toward the door.

"There's a good reason," she rolled her eyes.

"Let's just go," she grabbed her purse and opened the front door. "Let's just hope she's not being stupid."

"I'm sure she's not," Anna followed, closing the door behind her. She watched and quickly locked the door and then ran back to the car. Getting in they both threw the linens in the back seat.

"She better be careful," Carrie started the car. "We don't need any little Humphrey's running around.

He pushed her back under the water, kissing her soundly. He could feel the warm water rushing down them both. "Mmm…this was a good idea," he smiled against her lips.

"It was," she grinned.

"I'm glad we decided to stay here tonight."

"I'm sure you did," she laughed.

"Mmm…" he growled pushing himself back into her. He started to move his hands down her body, caressing her as he worked his way down. He pushed her back further so her back was touching the wall.

"Oh, that's cold," she jumped.

He laughed and wrapped his arms back around her before he pushed his mid section into her and slowly parted her legs.

"Rufus we can't…" she said into his mouth.

"Why not," he started to massage her between her legs.

"You…you didn't bring any…any…." Her breathing turned hard as Rufus slipped two fingers in her. "Oh…."

"It'll be okay," he started to stroke himself, bringing him near her entrance.

"Rufus," she fought with her emotions. "No…I don't want to take that chance….Okay?" She placed her hands on his chest. "Okay."

He sighed, "You're right. You just…you get me all excited," he laughed a little. "I've been wanting to be like this with you for awhlle."

"I know," she kissed him. "Thank you for being patient…for waiting till I was ready….for not pressuring me."

He touched her cheek and kissed her softly. "You have some soap still in your hair."

"Do I?"

"Yeah come here." He picked up the cup filling it with water. "Close your eyes." He looked at her and made sure her eyes were shut and then poured the water over her head washing the soap out.

"All gone?"

"All gone," he smiled. "I think we're all clean."

She smiled and turned around turning off the water. He helped her out of the shower and picked a towel up off the counter. He wrapped it around his waist then took another towel and wrapped it around her, rubbing her arms up and down quickly. "Wanna go lay by the fire and get warm?"

"That sounds nice," she nodded leaning in his arms.

Walking down the steps Alison noticed the flickers lights of the fire were almost out. "We're going to need more wood," she looked around.

"I saw some by the back door. Go get under the blankets. I'll be there in a second."

"Okay." Alison sat down on the ground and covered herself when a blanket. She took her towel and started to dry her hair. She moved closer to the fire hoping to warm herself up.

Rufus came back over and tossed a couple logs onto the fire. Then filled up the wood bin. "That should get us through the night," he sighed sitting down next to her.

"Good," she nodded.

He noticed the far off look in her eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she smiled leaning on him. "Just tired."

"Here," he pulled her down. "Let's go to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."

"You don't mind?" She rested her head near his shoulder.

"Course not," he covered them.

They both stared into the fire for awhile when the clock chimed. Rufus looked up and smiled. "Happy birthday Al." He squeezed her and tuned her chin to the side so he could kiss her.

"Mmm…." she smiled. "Thank you."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Chapter Eleven

I used to be that girl...

(The return of Lily)

*SNIPPET*

"Where is she?" Rufus kept his voice even.

"Still keeping tabs on her," he laughed, shoving him out of the way.

Suddenly Lily emerged from the back room. Her shoes in one hand and her sliver hoop earrings in the other.

"Lily…" Rufus looked at her.

"Hey!" Trent yelled from the front of the bus. "You better bring that back when you're done." He pointed to Lily. "I ain't done with her yet," he laughed humping the air.

Lily rolled her eyes and kept staring straight ahead. She would be fine as long as she didn't look at Rufus. She pushed passed him and went after Trent. "Hey wait up!"

"Lily!" Rufus said again, following her.

"What do you want Rufus?" she turned around her head cocking to the side. "I'm in a hurry."

He looked at her, words escaping him for the moment. Her hair was a mess, the buttons on her shirt were uneven and her skirt was twisted to the side. 'What…..why…." he sighed. "I…"

"What?" she laughed. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Rufus?" Alison's voice was heard over the fighting from out side. "Rufus are you in here?" she walked onto the bus.

Lily turned around, the voice slightly familiar to her. She blinked a few times and saw Alison. She turned to look at Rufus then back to Alison again. "You have be kidding me," she laughed.