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“A house An albatross but a house all the same Come in” I step aside and try to silently talk down the erection that’s turning into its own sort of albatross

My immediate and visceral reaction confuses me a bit as she steps into the foyer and her hypnotic eyes take in the interior Her dark lashes flutter over eyes that reoon They’re not quite blue and they’re not co blend of both

“I’ot here safely,” I add as she turns in a slow circle, untwisting the oversized fuzzy rainbow-colored scarf from her neck

“Me too Was quite a drive The tires on et any traction”

“Then you need new tires” I frown, tipping my head to look out the s on either side of the front door and see the older e sedan with a cruer side “Or a new car”

“Yeah, well, neither of those are budget friendly right now”

Then we are going to adjust your budget, I think to myself as I note the worn hem on her navy-blue pee coat

There’s a purity in her flushed cheeks and an opposing wisdom in her eyes As she takes another step on the marble floor, her wet rubber boot slips and she nearly falls on her ass An ass I can’t yet see, but I don’t need to see to know it’s epic

Again, ? Five, ten years? Maybe longer since I’ve had any attraction to a wo someone, and Jesus hoant to touch her

“Slippery et,” she says on a giggle, looking down at the floor “Pretty, but impractical”

“Yes, slippery and wet,” I replyme a comical look “I mean, I see it is You can take your boots off here if you like”

I hear a throat clear from the stairway and Alice flips her head toward the sound as she works her rubber boots off her feet

Before I can introduce Linnie, Alice steps to the botto her coat off and tossing it up onto the curved wooden banister as Linnie stares down from her perch on the step

“Well, hello I’m Alice” She smiles, full and sincere, and I want to see that smile every day for the rest of my life