Young man. She hated young men, for different reasons than she hated old men, for different reasons than she hated middle aged men. As soon as drawers dropped? God’s shame wept, for Eve was the second draft. There was nothing left to love about a man once he’d shown himself both to God’s daylight and Lory’s night.

Especially Lory’s night.

Lory laughed as though he’d said the funniest thing in the world – but the laugh shot up two startled octaves when an unexpected ‘savior’ launched into view.

“Alice! Please!” she called out, aghast.

Oh no. How much did she see?

“It’s not-”

The man held his arms up, though waved a hand dismissively at Lory when she tried to speak.

“Is your sister for sale, too?”

Lory blanched.