Chapter 29

When we got up to shower at 4:30, Mom and Dad were still in their bedroom, but it didn’t seem they were having sex, just a low murmur of conversation I couldn’t hear, but perhaps the wolves did. We dressed, then we three picked up because we were having company. Mom and Dad joining us at 5:30. Dawn and Gerhard arrived at ten minutes to six, carrying several bags of Chinese food. We brought them into the kitchen, but I held off on introductions until everyone was there. Gretchen arrived five minutes early, giving me a hot kiss when she did. It was about seven minutes after seven when Brenda arrived.

She looked harried and frazzled. Her son was named Thomas, Jr, and he looked like he might have been on sugar all afternoon, going eight different directions at once.

“Mom, Dad, Brenda, Gretchen, I’d like to introduce you to Gerhard and Dawn. Gerhard provided the Chinese food tonight, so thank him for feeding us. Dawn is like a family member. These are my friends, Conor and Br