Her lip trembled, but she pulled her neck up and chin high as she tried to reel it back in.

“You have been so–” she paused, she couldn’t help but look at the shouty man! “– so, so miserable since you left. Is it- is it the sex?”

Another quizzical look to Alice at this new dramatic rendition, and she dropped her voice. “Do you … know him?”

Biblically, she managed not to add.

Then, Appleton was shouting his version at her again and Lory gritted her teeth.

“Why do you have to tell her what to think and what to say, then!?” she sneered back, arms about Alice once more.

Rose jumped in, and Lory spread her arms and legs to better steady the boat. Her look was guarded when she first met Rose’s eye … but then the tears fell.

Rose had seen the light!

... Then she heard a splash, and got spattered with water.