A call was put through to Victor's office around midday on Friday.
'Mr Del Toro. This is Ms Burton. I'm the principal from Santa Monica high. I was wondering if you and your wife could come for a meeting with me this afternoon.'
Victor groaned inwardly and reluctantly agreed to the meeting. It had been explained briefly to him that Danika had gotten herself into a fight with another student.
He rang Linda and she agreed to meet him at the school.
When Victor and Linda arrived at the high school reception area they found Danika brused and bloodied. She had a black eye, a cut on her temple and grazed knuckles.
Linda's maternal instincts kicked in immediately and she pulled out a tissue and began dabbing at the dried blood on Danika's face.
Victor sat on the other side of his daughter. 'What happened?'
Danika rolled her eyes. 'They started it.'
'Who's they?' Victor asked. Danika often disliked conversation when she was in trouble.
'A group of kids. Mainly 10th graders. There was one girl from my class. She got kept back last year. She was the one I was fighting with.'
'What did they do?' Linda asked, tilting her daughter's face towards her to check for any more injuries.
Danika just shrugged. 'They're jealous cause Megan is dating Jason. They were calling her names so I told them to stop it or I'd thrash them. The girl from my class, Elisha, came over and started pushing me around asking what I was going to do about it. So I hit her.'
Ms Burton came out of her office and invited the three of them in.
'Now we are a serious problem. Danika, do you want to tell your parents what you did?'
Danika huffed. 'Elisha and her gang were calling Megan a slut. I told them to shut up and…'
Ms Burton interrupted. 'You mean you told them to be quiet by yelling obscenities at them?'
'They were calling Megan a slut!' Danika yelled.
'Now, now, there's no reason to get aggressive again.' The principal said.
Danika scowled and Linda put a hand on her shoulder to quieten her.
'What happened then Danika?' Ms Burton asked or rather demanded.
'Then Elisha came over and pushed me.'
'Don't you mean that you went over to Elisha and hit her?' Ms Burton said matter-of-factly.
'No! She pushed me.'
'That's not what Elisha said.' Ms Burton looked down her nose at Danika.
'Well that's what Danika says.' Victor said gruffly not liking the treatment his daughter was receiving. 'Why aren't you listening to her side of the story?' Danika wasn't usually an aggressive person, unless provoked. The defamation of her sister would be enough to spark her off.
Ms Burton just smiled. 'Elisha is her class captain. I would trust her more than a troublemaker.'
Linda's jaw almost hit the floor. As a teacher herself she couldn't believe that this woman was being so biased.
Victor jumped out of his chair. 'Danika is not a troublemaker.' He yelled.
'Sit down Victor.' Linda said. 'This isn't helping.'
Victor sat back down in his chair and glared at the principal.
'I can see where Danika gets her aggressive streak from.' She said smugly before turning her attention to Linda. 'Danika has a habit of harassing this girl; calling her names, yelling at her, bumping her in the halls.'
'She does all that to me too.' Danika whined in her defence.
Ms Burton ignored her. 'This pattern of behaviour is certainly not welcome in this school. I'm afraid I will have to suspend Danika until she can apologise to Elisha.'
'Just wait a minute…' Victor jumped in.
Linda held a hand up to him to keep him quiet. 'We'll agree to that.' She said and received startled looks from her daughter and husband.
'Good.' Ms Burton said looking pleased with herself.
Linda continued. 'As long as Elisha remains on suspension until she can apologise to Megan for her part in all of this.'
'That won't be happening.' The principal said.
'And why not?' Victor asked.
'Because I believe that Elisha was not in the wrong.'
'Except for calling our daughter disgusting names.' Linda said.
'Elisha has been warned not to do that again.'
'Then I insist that Elisha apologise.' Linda persisted.
Victor had to hand it to his wife. She was a better negotiator than he gave her credit for.
'I cannot make her apologise.' Ms Burton said firmly.
'Then will you arrange a meeting between myself and my husband and this girl's parents so that we can further resolve this matter.'
'I do not have the authority to do that.'
Linda pursed her lips together. 'In that case I will be withdrawing both my daughters' enrolments in this school immediately and will be taking this matter further. Have a good day Ms Burton.' Linda gathered her handbag and ushered her family out of the room.
Ms Burton looked shocked. So did Victor and Danika.
When they were safely out of earshot Danika asked, 'Where will I go to school now?'
'I'll see if I can get you enrolled at St Augustus.' Linda replied.
'St Augustus! But that's a private school.' Danika whined.
'Would you rather stay here and put up with that?' Victor motioned over his shoulder to the office they'd left.
Danika pouted.
'It won't be that bad honey. Megan will be going there too. And it's not like the other private school that is all girls.' Linda stopped for a minute. 'Do you know what class Megan has got this afternoon?'
'Um, I think its drama. She was practicing a play last night and she said she had to perform it this afternoon.'
'Okay. How about you take your father and clean out your locker while I get your sister.'
Danika moped all the way to the lockers.
Victor put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. 'Cheer up sweetie, you'll make new friends.'
'Whatever.' Danika mumbled.
Victor sat in the restaurant across from his wife watching her pick at her food. Usually she was zealous about such an event as an anniversary but this night she seemed strangely withdrawn.
'You know the food tastes just as good when it was hot.' He said sarcastically.
Linda put down her fork. 'I'm sorry Victor. I'm not very good company tonight.'
'What's the matter?'
'I'm just worried about a few things.'
'You're worried about the girls?' He asked.
She nodded.
'Don't worry about them. They'll be fine. Megan makes friends really easily and Danika…is Danika. She'll love the music programs at St Augustus.'
'I know. I just worry about her. Megan will love it but I'm not sure about Danika. She's not like a lot of the girls her age.'
'I know, it's great. We're saving a fortune on make-up and phone calls.'
Linda giggled. 'I just can't help worrying about them though. It's because I'm their mother. It's a rule that I must worry myself sick about them.'
Victor reached across the table and held her hand. 'Don't worry honey. They'll be fine.'
Linda smiled and went back to picking at her food.
Later that night the couple were walking along the boardwalk. Linda was cuddled up close to Victor and he had is arm around her.
There weren't many people out where they were walking. The occasional skater and other couples out for a moonlight walk but they were all few and far between.
'We should be getting home. It's late and I promised Alex I'd finish reading the Harry Potter book to him.' Linda said, but not making a move back to the car.
Victor nodded. 'But first I have to give you something.' He guided her over to under a street light.
'What is it?' She asked.
'Your present.' He handed her a velvet box with a big white bow on top.
Linda opened the box and gasped. 'It's so beautiful!' Inside was a bracelet with a diamond dolphin on the front and amethyst and ruby shapes around the band.
'Just like you.' Victor said cuddling her close.
Linda reached up and kissed him. She looked out over the water. 'How about we go down on the beach quickly before we go home?'
They went down on the beach and she took off her shoes so she could wade in the water.
Victor just stood there watching her. She looked like an angel. The white dress she was wearing was fluttering in the wind. The colour was only emphasized by the moon light which glistened off her hair and made it look like a shining halo.
He was thinking about the time when she almost did become an angel. Sitting next to her in the ambulance watching the life drain out of her was the scariest moment of his life. He knew that if she could only make it to the hospital she might have a chance.
She hadn't made it though. She didn't have a pulse when they arrived and it took the doctors several attempts before they could get her heart started again.
After that we was just so thankful she was even alive that he stayed by her bedside in the hospital for the next three weeks until she gained consciousness again. He ended up losing about 15 pounds. The nurses ended up setting up a cot for him after he didn't sleep for three days straight. He also didn't eat unless Rosa forced him too.
It was worth it though. Victor was there when Linda opened her eyes for the first time and he was the first person she saw. It hadn't been much; she just looked at him for a second before falling back to sleep but it was one of the greatest moments of his life and he knew that she was going to be okay.
Then Victor only left the hospital a few times.
Once was for the sentencing of the man who shot Linda. He turned himself in after giving in to a guilty conscious. He's also giving up the names of his accomplices in return for a lighter sentence. Victor vowed the when the man was let out of prison that he would find anything and everything to charge him with.
Another time was to make an after hours call to Jamie, the priest that was supposed to marry them. Victor insisted that he didn't want to wait to be married to Linda and she agreed so Jamie married them at the hospital with Rosa and Ricky as witnesses.
They had a more formal ceremony after Linda had recovered.
At the wedding Linda looked much like she did tonight; in a glowing white dress and a contented smile. Except then she's been a bit heavier as she was pregnant with Danika. Apparently they couldn't wait for that either.
Chris had been appointed maid-of-honour even though Victor suspected it had more to do with Linda showing Chris that she didn't harbour any ill feelings than as a sign of the friendship.
Cory was another bridesmaid and almost fainted during the ceremony.
Tc was the best man and took delight in claiming that the best man HAD to dance with the maid-of-honour.
Palermo had been asked to be in the groom's party but had decline. An old friend of Victor's from Santa Fe took the spot instead.
Ricky gave Linda away and ended up spending the rest of the wedding comforting Rosa who cried since the second Linda started to walk down the aisle.
It was now 14 years and 3 months since that day and 15 years to the day since they'd been married in the hospital. Victor could still remember it like it was yesterday.
Linda reached down and flicked water at him, giving him a great look at her cleavage at the same time.
'You had better not be thinking about what I think you're thinking about.' She said. Linda knew Victor still had regrets about what happened. Why hadn't he been there? Why did they have to hit her? Why wasn't be able to move heaven and earth to protect her? No matter how much she told him that everything was, the whole incident weighed heavily on his mind.
Victor grinned sheepishly. 'Since when did I give you permission to read my thoughts?' He said jokingly.
'When you asked me to be your wife.' She came to the edge of the water and held out her arms. Victor picked her up and carried her back to the grass so she didn't get sandy feet.
He set her down and looked into her eyes before kissing her deeply.
'Mi amor.' He whispered to her.
Linda smiled. 'Mi amor.' She whispered back.
Victor woke up the next morning with Linda still sleeping in his arms.
He lay the admiring her sleeping form. She looked so beautiful, and so happy. Much the way he felt; happy.
And with good reason. He'd spent a few hours last night showing her how much he loved her before she'd finally snuggled up next to him, with her head in the crook of his neck, and had fallen asleep.
He thought again about how she's almost died. He was glad he'd kept her those few minutes longer in his bed that morning.
She'd bitterly complained that she was running late and looked embarrassed when Chris asked her why she was late, but in his opinion, it was worth it.
Chris and Linda had entered the store a few minutes before the first shots rang out.
Chris dragged Linda down behind a cabinet and returned fire, not aware that Linda has taken a bullet.
After the shooters had left looked at Linda to make sure that she was okay and found she had an entry would just below her rib cage. She'd immediately called for an ambulance.
Victor had not driven far from the store after dropping Linda off when he heard the call over his radio.
He spun the car around almost knocking over a mail box in the process and sped to where his fiancée lay bleeding on the store's floor.
After surgery the doctor told Victor how lucky she'd been. The bullet had missed her heart and lungs although it did fracture a vertebra on the way through which now gave Linda back aches every time it rained.
Linda shifted in her sleep pushing herself closer to Victor and hooking one of his legs under one of hers.
He'd been thinking about getting out of bed and getting ready to pick up his mother from the airport but now he was trapped. Not that he minded.
To him, there was something sweet about being in bed with his wife with them both fully naked.
Linda was waking up. That hand that had been draped across his stomach went up to his chest and rubbed over his skin.
She sighed and opened her eyes to look at him. 'Good morning.' She said.
'Good morning.' He said back to her and kissed her lightly on the forehead. 'How are you feeling?'
Linda smiled and snuggled further down under the blanket.
Victor jumped when her hand went south and reached a rather sensitive part of his body. 'That good huh?'
She nodded.
Victor started kissing Linda in the hope that they could have a repeat of last night.
She pushed him away.
'What's the matter?' He asked.
'Nothing.' She said. 'But you have something to do this morning.'
He made a face.
'Victor.' She warned.
'I know, I know.' He said releasing her.
She pulled the covers off and sat on the edge of the bed and looked around for something to put on.
'I just thought we could have a few more minutes.' He watched as she pulled the nightgown over her head.
'We'll talk tonight.'
'Talking' had been their key word since the children were little. They still used it since none of their little darlings had picked up on it yet.
'Besides I'm busy this morning too. Danika has soccer, Alex is going to a friend's house and Megan wants to go shopping for clothes.'
'Again? Soon she'll need another wardrobe.'
Linda shrugged. 'She's a teenager. They are very body conscious at that stage.'
'So am I.' He said. 'And I don't go shopping for clothes every week.'
'That doesn't count.' Linda said leaning over and kissing him before heading off for a shower. 'She's conscious of her own body, not mine.'
'Mr Del Toro. This is Ms Burton. I'm the principal from Santa Monica high. I was wondering if you and your wife could come for a meeting with me this afternoon.'
Victor groaned inwardly and reluctantly agreed to the meeting. It had been explained briefly to him that Danika had gotten herself into a fight with another student.
He rang Linda and she agreed to meet him at the school.
When Victor and Linda arrived at the high school reception area they found Danika brused and bloodied. She had a black eye, a cut on her temple and grazed knuckles.
Linda's maternal instincts kicked in immediately and she pulled out a tissue and began dabbing at the dried blood on Danika's face.
Victor sat on the other side of his daughter. 'What happened?'
Danika rolled her eyes. 'They started it.'
'Who's they?' Victor asked. Danika often disliked conversation when she was in trouble.
'A group of kids. Mainly 10th graders. There was one girl from my class. She got kept back last year. She was the one I was fighting with.'
'What did they do?' Linda asked, tilting her daughter's face towards her to check for any more injuries.
Danika just shrugged. 'They're jealous cause Megan is dating Jason. They were calling her names so I told them to stop it or I'd thrash them. The girl from my class, Elisha, came over and started pushing me around asking what I was going to do about it. So I hit her.'
Ms Burton came out of her office and invited the three of them in.
'Now we are a serious problem. Danika, do you want to tell your parents what you did?'
Danika huffed. 'Elisha and her gang were calling Megan a slut. I told them to shut up and…'
Ms Burton interrupted. 'You mean you told them to be quiet by yelling obscenities at them?'
'They were calling Megan a slut!' Danika yelled.
'Now, now, there's no reason to get aggressive again.' The principal said.
Danika scowled and Linda put a hand on her shoulder to quieten her.
'What happened then Danika?' Ms Burton asked or rather demanded.
'Then Elisha came over and pushed me.'
'Don't you mean that you went over to Elisha and hit her?' Ms Burton said matter-of-factly.
'No! She pushed me.'
'That's not what Elisha said.' Ms Burton looked down her nose at Danika.
'Well that's what Danika says.' Victor said gruffly not liking the treatment his daughter was receiving. 'Why aren't you listening to her side of the story?' Danika wasn't usually an aggressive person, unless provoked. The defamation of her sister would be enough to spark her off.
Ms Burton just smiled. 'Elisha is her class captain. I would trust her more than a troublemaker.'
Linda's jaw almost hit the floor. As a teacher herself she couldn't believe that this woman was being so biased.
Victor jumped out of his chair. 'Danika is not a troublemaker.' He yelled.
'Sit down Victor.' Linda said. 'This isn't helping.'
Victor sat back down in his chair and glared at the principal.
'I can see where Danika gets her aggressive streak from.' She said smugly before turning her attention to Linda. 'Danika has a habit of harassing this girl; calling her names, yelling at her, bumping her in the halls.'
'She does all that to me too.' Danika whined in her defence.
Ms Burton ignored her. 'This pattern of behaviour is certainly not welcome in this school. I'm afraid I will have to suspend Danika until she can apologise to Elisha.'
'Just wait a minute…' Victor jumped in.
Linda held a hand up to him to keep him quiet. 'We'll agree to that.' She said and received startled looks from her daughter and husband.
'Good.' Ms Burton said looking pleased with herself.
Linda continued. 'As long as Elisha remains on suspension until she can apologise to Megan for her part in all of this.'
'That won't be happening.' The principal said.
'And why not?' Victor asked.
'Because I believe that Elisha was not in the wrong.'
'Except for calling our daughter disgusting names.' Linda said.
'Elisha has been warned not to do that again.'
'Then I insist that Elisha apologise.' Linda persisted.
Victor had to hand it to his wife. She was a better negotiator than he gave her credit for.
'I cannot make her apologise.' Ms Burton said firmly.
'Then will you arrange a meeting between myself and my husband and this girl's parents so that we can further resolve this matter.'
'I do not have the authority to do that.'
Linda pursed her lips together. 'In that case I will be withdrawing both my daughters' enrolments in this school immediately and will be taking this matter further. Have a good day Ms Burton.' Linda gathered her handbag and ushered her family out of the room.
Ms Burton looked shocked. So did Victor and Danika.
When they were safely out of earshot Danika asked, 'Where will I go to school now?'
'I'll see if I can get you enrolled at St Augustus.' Linda replied.
'St Augustus! But that's a private school.' Danika whined.
'Would you rather stay here and put up with that?' Victor motioned over his shoulder to the office they'd left.
Danika pouted.
'It won't be that bad honey. Megan will be going there too. And it's not like the other private school that is all girls.' Linda stopped for a minute. 'Do you know what class Megan has got this afternoon?'
'Um, I think its drama. She was practicing a play last night and she said she had to perform it this afternoon.'
'Okay. How about you take your father and clean out your locker while I get your sister.'
Danika moped all the way to the lockers.
Victor put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. 'Cheer up sweetie, you'll make new friends.'
'Whatever.' Danika mumbled.
Victor sat in the restaurant across from his wife watching her pick at her food. Usually she was zealous about such an event as an anniversary but this night she seemed strangely withdrawn.
'You know the food tastes just as good when it was hot.' He said sarcastically.
Linda put down her fork. 'I'm sorry Victor. I'm not very good company tonight.'
'What's the matter?'
'I'm just worried about a few things.'
'You're worried about the girls?' He asked.
She nodded.
'Don't worry about them. They'll be fine. Megan makes friends really easily and Danika…is Danika. She'll love the music programs at St Augustus.'
'I know. I just worry about her. Megan will love it but I'm not sure about Danika. She's not like a lot of the girls her age.'
'I know, it's great. We're saving a fortune on make-up and phone calls.'
Linda giggled. 'I just can't help worrying about them though. It's because I'm their mother. It's a rule that I must worry myself sick about them.'
Victor reached across the table and held her hand. 'Don't worry honey. They'll be fine.'
Linda smiled and went back to picking at her food.
Later that night the couple were walking along the boardwalk. Linda was cuddled up close to Victor and he had is arm around her.
There weren't many people out where they were walking. The occasional skater and other couples out for a moonlight walk but they were all few and far between.
'We should be getting home. It's late and I promised Alex I'd finish reading the Harry Potter book to him.' Linda said, but not making a move back to the car.
Victor nodded. 'But first I have to give you something.' He guided her over to under a street light.
'What is it?' She asked.
'Your present.' He handed her a velvet box with a big white bow on top.
Linda opened the box and gasped. 'It's so beautiful!' Inside was a bracelet with a diamond dolphin on the front and amethyst and ruby shapes around the band.
'Just like you.' Victor said cuddling her close.
Linda reached up and kissed him. She looked out over the water. 'How about we go down on the beach quickly before we go home?'
They went down on the beach and she took off her shoes so she could wade in the water.
Victor just stood there watching her. She looked like an angel. The white dress she was wearing was fluttering in the wind. The colour was only emphasized by the moon light which glistened off her hair and made it look like a shining halo.
He was thinking about the time when she almost did become an angel. Sitting next to her in the ambulance watching the life drain out of her was the scariest moment of his life. He knew that if she could only make it to the hospital she might have a chance.
She hadn't made it though. She didn't have a pulse when they arrived and it took the doctors several attempts before they could get her heart started again.
After that we was just so thankful she was even alive that he stayed by her bedside in the hospital for the next three weeks until she gained consciousness again. He ended up losing about 15 pounds. The nurses ended up setting up a cot for him after he didn't sleep for three days straight. He also didn't eat unless Rosa forced him too.
It was worth it though. Victor was there when Linda opened her eyes for the first time and he was the first person she saw. It hadn't been much; she just looked at him for a second before falling back to sleep but it was one of the greatest moments of his life and he knew that she was going to be okay.
Then Victor only left the hospital a few times.
Once was for the sentencing of the man who shot Linda. He turned himself in after giving in to a guilty conscious. He's also giving up the names of his accomplices in return for a lighter sentence. Victor vowed the when the man was let out of prison that he would find anything and everything to charge him with.
Another time was to make an after hours call to Jamie, the priest that was supposed to marry them. Victor insisted that he didn't want to wait to be married to Linda and she agreed so Jamie married them at the hospital with Rosa and Ricky as witnesses.
They had a more formal ceremony after Linda had recovered.
At the wedding Linda looked much like she did tonight; in a glowing white dress and a contented smile. Except then she's been a bit heavier as she was pregnant with Danika. Apparently they couldn't wait for that either.
Chris had been appointed maid-of-honour even though Victor suspected it had more to do with Linda showing Chris that she didn't harbour any ill feelings than as a sign of the friendship.
Cory was another bridesmaid and almost fainted during the ceremony.
Tc was the best man and took delight in claiming that the best man HAD to dance with the maid-of-honour.
Palermo had been asked to be in the groom's party but had decline. An old friend of Victor's from Santa Fe took the spot instead.
Ricky gave Linda away and ended up spending the rest of the wedding comforting Rosa who cried since the second Linda started to walk down the aisle.
It was now 14 years and 3 months since that day and 15 years to the day since they'd been married in the hospital. Victor could still remember it like it was yesterday.
Linda reached down and flicked water at him, giving him a great look at her cleavage at the same time.
'You had better not be thinking about what I think you're thinking about.' She said. Linda knew Victor still had regrets about what happened. Why hadn't he been there? Why did they have to hit her? Why wasn't be able to move heaven and earth to protect her? No matter how much she told him that everything was, the whole incident weighed heavily on his mind.
Victor grinned sheepishly. 'Since when did I give you permission to read my thoughts?' He said jokingly.
'When you asked me to be your wife.' She came to the edge of the water and held out her arms. Victor picked her up and carried her back to the grass so she didn't get sandy feet.
He set her down and looked into her eyes before kissing her deeply.
'Mi amor.' He whispered to her.
Linda smiled. 'Mi amor.' She whispered back.
Victor woke up the next morning with Linda still sleeping in his arms.
He lay the admiring her sleeping form. She looked so beautiful, and so happy. Much the way he felt; happy.
And with good reason. He'd spent a few hours last night showing her how much he loved her before she'd finally snuggled up next to him, with her head in the crook of his neck, and had fallen asleep.
He thought again about how she's almost died. He was glad he'd kept her those few minutes longer in his bed that morning.
She'd bitterly complained that she was running late and looked embarrassed when Chris asked her why she was late, but in his opinion, it was worth it.
Chris and Linda had entered the store a few minutes before the first shots rang out.
Chris dragged Linda down behind a cabinet and returned fire, not aware that Linda has taken a bullet.
After the shooters had left looked at Linda to make sure that she was okay and found she had an entry would just below her rib cage. She'd immediately called for an ambulance.
Victor had not driven far from the store after dropping Linda off when he heard the call over his radio.
He spun the car around almost knocking over a mail box in the process and sped to where his fiancée lay bleeding on the store's floor.
After surgery the doctor told Victor how lucky she'd been. The bullet had missed her heart and lungs although it did fracture a vertebra on the way through which now gave Linda back aches every time it rained.
Linda shifted in her sleep pushing herself closer to Victor and hooking one of his legs under one of hers.
He'd been thinking about getting out of bed and getting ready to pick up his mother from the airport but now he was trapped. Not that he minded.
To him, there was something sweet about being in bed with his wife with them both fully naked.
Linda was waking up. That hand that had been draped across his stomach went up to his chest and rubbed over his skin.
She sighed and opened her eyes to look at him. 'Good morning.' She said.
'Good morning.' He said back to her and kissed her lightly on the forehead. 'How are you feeling?'
Linda smiled and snuggled further down under the blanket.
Victor jumped when her hand went south and reached a rather sensitive part of his body. 'That good huh?'
She nodded.
Victor started kissing Linda in the hope that they could have a repeat of last night.
She pushed him away.
'What's the matter?' He asked.
'Nothing.' She said. 'But you have something to do this morning.'
He made a face.
'Victor.' She warned.
'I know, I know.' He said releasing her.
She pulled the covers off and sat on the edge of the bed and looked around for something to put on.
'I just thought we could have a few more minutes.' He watched as she pulled the nightgown over her head.
'We'll talk tonight.'
'Talking' had been their key word since the children were little. They still used it since none of their little darlings had picked up on it yet.
'Besides I'm busy this morning too. Danika has soccer, Alex is going to a friend's house and Megan wants to go shopping for clothes.'
'Again? Soon she'll need another wardrobe.'
Linda shrugged. 'She's a teenager. They are very body conscious at that stage.'
'So am I.' He said. 'And I don't go shopping for clothes every week.'
'That doesn't count.' Linda said leaning over and kissing him before heading off for a shower. 'She's conscious of her own body, not mine.'
