FALL (September 2002)

It was a beautiful day when Cherys and I met as usual. For me, this was an odd reminder that it was just over a year since I made love with her. She was still so beautiful that I couldn't help but briefly fantasize about a repeat.

But that wasn't why we were here.

“Hi gorgeous," I said warmly and pulled her into my arms for a hug.

“Hey David."

Then we both turned and said hello to Ellie.

“INCOMING! "

My ears perked up at the panicked bellow behind me and I dodged to the left and out of the doorway. In the corner of my eye, I saw a figure stumbling behind me and then an overstuffed laundry basket thudded to the floor right where I had been standing.

Amber had shrieked in momentary surprise and I immediately looked to her, but now she was just laughing from her seat at the dining table. I then glanced back at the laundry basket, now tilted onto its side with an array of clothes, many still on their hangars, spilling out across the floor.

A thin, bespectacled young man fixed his glasses and then looked up at me sheepishly.

“Sorry ‘bout that. Lost my grip."

I chuckled under my breath. "No problem, Jeff."

“What happened?" E-Beth's shrilly voice came from behind. Then she surveyed the spilled clothes.

“Had an accident, honey?"

Jeff just blushed as E-Beth leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before patting him on the shoulder. Then she turned and carried her much smaller bag up the stairs.

A tall, well-built hulk then poked his head through the doorway, easily holding up a very big, very heavy suitcase and not even using the roller wheels. "Need a hand?"

Jeff was already squatting as he righted the basket and began stuffing the clothes back into it.

“Nah, Eric, I got it.”

I glanced over and reached my hand out to E-Beth's little brother.

“Good to see you Eric. More importantly, the football team must be really happy to see you.”

He shrugged.

“Yeah, we started drills a month ago and Coach says I'm probably going to start the first game."

“Congratulations! You deserve it!" I reached up to give him the usual football jock's hand clasp, but he wasn't looking at me anymore. His jaw was slack and he was kinda staring oddly across the room, so I followed his gaze straight to Amber, who had already turned her attention back to her breakfast.

"Uh..." he began in a low voice. "Uh, hi Amber." The big lug's voice was so low and so soft that I wasn't quite sure she could hear him.

But she did and she flashed him a brilliant smile. All 260 pounds of