"My husband – Louis," Rhoda said. "Ah, yes!" Louis extended his hand and held Erica's hand in his grasp for just a little too long.

"How about a game of cards?" Rhoda asked brightly.

"I-I thought this was a party," Erica said. She glanced at Shaun, but he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Of course it is," Rhoda said. "Just the six of us, isn't that cozy?" She smiled at the girls. "How about a drink?"

"Er, no, not really. We have to be going soon," Erica said.

"Two rum and Cokes," Rhoda said brightly. "Your usual, my dear?"

"Yes, wonderful," Louis said.

"And you boys?" Rhoda turned to Shaun and Willy.

"Er, yeah," Shaun said. He seemed nervous too. "Er – beer!"

"Coming up," Rhoda said brightly. Amy and Erica stayed close together, nervous and out of their depth. The lights were low, except for soft spotlights on a low table and the chairs around it. The music was soft and gentile, but it didn't help, particularly as Louis' eyes roamed up and down the girl's bodies.

Both girls had lovely willowy bodies to match their faces, even if they were covered by their light summer dream. As Rhoda brought the drinks, Amy looked at her cousin again and Erica smiled back, though she seemed less sure of herself than before.

"Now, cards," Louis said, leading the way to the table.

"My parents never let me play cards," Amy said as she sat nervously and took a sip of the rum and Coke. It was nice, the slight taste of the rum not overwhelming the Coke. "They say they're the devil's invention and ruin people."

She smiled nervously, hoping they would take the hint.

"Nonsense," Rhoda said. "We don't play for money or anything like that. We just have a good time, don't we?"

"Sure, Rhoda," Shaun said, and Amy could hear a slight strain in his voice.