Chapter 31

           PATRICIAHADHERARMSaroundBenCaxtonandgavehimtheall-outkissofbrotherhoodbeforeheknewwhathithim.Shefeltatoncehisuneaseandwasherselfsurprised,becauseMichaelhadtoldhertoexpecthim,givenherBen’sfaceinhermind,hadexplainedthatBenwasabrotherinallfullness,oftheInnerNest,andsheknewthatJillwasgrowncloserwithBensecondonlytothatwithMichael?whichwasalwaysnecessarilyfirstsinceMichaelwasthefountainandsourceofalltheirknowledgeofthewateroflife.

           ButthefoundationofPatricia’snaturewasanendlesswishtomakeotherpeopleashappyasshewas;shesloweddown.SheinvitedBentogetridofhisclothesbutdidsocasuallyanddidnotpressthematter,excepttoaskhimtoremovehisshoes,withtheexplanationthattheNestwaseverywherekindtobarefeetandtheunstatedcorollarythatstreetshoeswouldnotbekindtoit–itwassoftandcleanasonlyMichael’spowerscouldkeepthingsclean,whichBencouldseeforhimself.

           AsidefromthatshemerelypointedoutwheretohanganyclotheshefoundtoowarmfortheNestandhurriedawaytofetchhimadrink.Shedidn’taskhispreferences;sheknewthemfromJill.ShemerelydecidedthathewouldchooseadoublemartinithistimeratherthanScotchandsoda,thepoordearlookedtired.Whenshecamebackwithadrinkforeachofthem,Benwasbarefootedandhadremovedhisstreetjacket."Brother,mayyouneverthirst."

           "Wesharewater,"heagreedanddrank."Butthere’smightylittlewaterinthat."