The 62nd Notch on the Bedpost Firstly, lets get a couple of things straight: The bedpost in question is a metaphorical one, and you haven't missed parts 1 - 61. Rather I have (but a few of my memoirs are out there if you look). Something happened to me recently to make me reconsider the way I have done things, and as a result, I have decided to commit some of the events of my life to writing. Stuff happened to me over the years. I had relationships: some good, some bad, some indifferent. For a change, the 61st notch wasn't particularly memorable, but the time around it was. I should add that this really did happen to me, and I have used the real first names of the main participants. I am Andrew, and for those interested, I am quite tall with short brown, slightly greying hair and very dark brown eyes. It was 2005, when I was 34. Amber had just turned 11 years old when her mother died. She dressed in black and threw some dirt on the coffin without shedding a tear. Only after the service, when most of the congregation had had gone and the two of us were alone on a bench in the graveyard did she cry. She heaved big sobs while I embraced her. `Uncle Andrew', she sniffed. `Are you my father?' I considered for a little while. `I wasn't there when you were conceived, but I was there for your first scan, when you first kicked inside your mother, when you were born, when you first walked, and every birthday party you have had. That doesn't make me your father, but I think it makes me your dad'. `Do you know my father?' she asked. `Not really. He died when you were small'. `Uncle Andrew', she sniffed again `Can I call you Dad?' `Of course you can, but only if I can call you my daughter' We sat cuddling together, both crying in our loss and our happiness. Kate - professional midwife, my long time friend and some time lover, had been waiting for us, politely talking to the vicar, giving us some time together before she came over. The vicar always had time to talk to her as she had almost single-handedly delivered his wife's twins five years before in the thick of a snow storm at the vicarage. She finally said goodbye to him, and came over to us, by which time Amber was a little more composed. `Hello Kate!' called Amber, in a cheerful sounding voice, `I would like you to meet my new dad, Andrew' `Oh gosh, he is handsome.' Kate said, playing along. `Does he have a girlfriend?' `Not right now, but he doesn't hang about, so grab him quickly.' We laughed at Amber's attempt at matchmaking. Kate and I had been on off lovers since Amber was born, but now we were more friends than lovers. `I noticed an Ice Cream van at outside the gates at the bottom of the hill. Here is £5, can you get us some' Kate suggested to Amber. Amber ran off, clutching the money. Kate wanted to talk to me privately. `Andrew, you do realise that your lifestyle is going to have to change don't you?' `How do you mean?' I asked. I had a nice house from my portfolio of properties lined up as our new home. Amber had chosen her room and picked the colour scheme. `I mean having a different woman in your bed every night. It will mess with Amber's head.' It was true that I had a lot of lovers: either my regulars, women I picked up in local bars, or less frequently, women I picked up from my office. `Having a girlfriend is ok, but you must try and get some stability into both of your lives.' Kate was one of my oldest friends, and I knew I could trust what she said. It was going to be difficult, but I said I would try, and gave her a hug. We had both said goodbye to a friend that day. `Wow, dad. You are a quick worker!' It was Amber. She had returned with one enormous ice cream cone and two ice lollies. She passed the ice cream (complete with two flakes, sauce and some sprinkles) to Kate, and said `I remember you liked ice cream with all the works from when we all went on that picnic last year' She was talking about an outing with Kate, her mum and me. `That was when Andrew was paying for it.' Kate laughed, giving Amber a hug. Amber and I got on with our lives as best as we could. We moved into our new home as soon as it was ready, and I had sorted out my office work around dropping her off and picking her up from school. I had taken to heart Kate's words, and had called all my old regulars to explain that I couldn't sleep with them anymore. I went the longest time without sex since I had been a teenager. However, it was difficult - I still had needs after all. I talked it over with Kate, who suggested I find a girlfriend. I met a woman about my age at Amber's school sports day. We got chatting somehow, and I found out she was divorced and available, so I asked her out for a meal (Kate babysat for me, much to Amber's protests). We got on ok, and she was certainly attractive so I asked her back to my house. Amber was in bed and Kate was waiting for us, but she departed when we arrived. We tore at each others clothes, and soon we were naked and making love on my bed. It had been nearly a month for me, and it felt good to lie back on the bed inside a woman as she fucked me from on top, grinding her pussy down onto me. I was just coming into her as Amber disturbed us. `Daddy, I had a bad dream... oh.... sorry.' `That's ok sweetie' my girlfriend said, turning around to her but still grinding on me. It was a bad choice of words - Amber's mum had called her `Sweetie'. She ran out back to her room. I withdrew from my new girlfriend as quickly as I could, threw on a robe and went into Amber's room. `Are you ok honey?' `Yes. Is that your new girlfriend?' `Yes. I think so.' `You better get back to her'. I gave Amber a hug and tucked her in to bed, then said goodnight. I went back to my room. My girlfriend was sitting up in bed much as she had when Amber came in. Her nipples were hard. `Your daughter is really cute!' she said. `Yes, she is.' I got back into the bed. `You should have told her to come and sleep in your bed.' She straddled my cock and lowered herself down once again. `She had lovely little titties.' She ground herself down onto me again. `What?' `I would love to lick her snatch - make her squirm.' I couldn't believe what I was hearing. `Have you fucked her yet?' she asked. I couldn't believe what this weirdo was saying. I pushed her off me and told her to get dressed and get out. She was indignant, but managed to say `You are saying you never thought of slipping that big cock into her tight pussy? Or fucking her ass? I bet she sucks a mean cock!' I practically bundled her out of the door semi-clothed. The next day, it felt like I should have some serious humble pie to eat. Amber didn't know the full story, but I did, and I felt awful about the type of woman I had managed to pick up. I explained to Amber that my girlfriend has said something I didn't like and that I had told her to leave. I never expected to see her again. It was a month later when my next opportunity to get laid came up, and I was starting to get a bit twitchy. Like I said - I have needs. The opportunity in question was this year's intake of work experience students who I had ended up being in charge of - it had started off not long after I joined the company as an onerous task, but now it was something I relished as it meant I got first pick of the new meat. Something about being in a position of authority often meant the chosen girl fell in love with me before I had even made a move, and this year was no exception. Shelley was a 16 year old girl, about 5'6", quite petite and dainty. She was dark haired, and fairly dark skinned as if she had some Mediterranean blood in her. I hadn't taken long to work my magic on her. We met up after work and gone on to a bar I know. Naturally as she was under 18, so I didn't give her alcohol, but whatever she drank, it seemed to make her want me more. We were soon kissing passionately and I suggested we went back to make place. I had mentioned to Amber that I had a date that evening. She was adamant that she didn't need a sitter, and as I hadn't expected to be late I said we would give it a try. We got back to my house. I was wondering what I should say to Amber about this - it could be tricky. In the event she had gone up to her bedroom when we arrived, perhaps to give us a little space. I think she wanted me to have a girlfriend as much as I did. Shelley and I kissed again just inside the front door. It seemed so long since I had done this. I slowly undid Shelley's blouse and unclasped her bra. Her small, perky breasts sprang out and she gasped as I took her nipples in my mouth and nibbled on them. I helped her blouse off her shoulders so that her top half was naked. Her dark, hard nipples stood out on her cone shaped breasts. I stood up in front of her, and she gently undid each of my buttons and pulled my shirt off my shoulders, gently kissing my chest. The she knelt down and unbuckled my trousers, unzipped them and pulled them down. There was only the fabric of my underwear between us, and she gently traced the outline of my balls and my hard cock with her petite hand. `I didn't realise they were so...big...' she trailed. It was her first one. I helped her off with her skirt and underwear. Her pubes were jet black, but they were so neat I guessed they were trimmed slightly. I pulled off my underwear so that we were standing naked in front of each other. `You will be gentle wont you?' she asked, looking rather worried. `Of course I will.' I lead her upstairs past Amber's room, desperately hoping she wouldn't open the door. She didn't, so we crept past into my room. Being a girl's first man is a big responsibility, and I didn't take it lightly. She went to suck on my penis - probably a friend had told her she should. `There is time for that later' I smiled. I laid her back on my bed and kissed her lips, then traced a line of kisses down over her breasts, down over her tummy, to her neat black pubes. Her clit was peaking out from it's hood, but I gently licked her dainty labia. First one side, then the other and back again. Each time I touched her, her pussy twitched and another trickle of her juice dribbled out. I held her labia apart so that I could see directly into her vagina - there was a thin fold of skin partly covering her hole. I gently licked at it, knowing it would be gone soon. Shelley had her first, rather vocal, orgasm whilst she was still a virgin. I kissed my way back up her tummy to her breasts, spending some time on them, then carried on up to her shoulders, neck and lips, where we kissed deeply. My cock was at her virgin pussy. `Make love to me.' she pleaded. I pushed forward, nudging at the little fold of skin. `This might hurt a little at first, but then it will be fine' I whispered. I pushed harder, then harder again, then suddenly it gave way. Shelley gave a little yelp of pain, then a gasp of pleasure as I pushed my entire length into her tight pussy. We started to fuck. Long and slow at first, then increasing in rhythm. Each time I pushed into her, Shelly gave a guttural groan. Finally she came again. I was getting near to climaxing myself - I felt the familiar tingle in my balls. I had intended to pull out quickly at this point and come on her tits, but my lack of sex recently meant that I was caught unprepared and suddenly I was flooding her delicious hole with my sperm. We caught our breath for a while, then Shelley said `That was amazing. I never knew it would be like that.' `Sorry about coming in you like that. I didn't intend to.' `That's ok. I always said I wouldn't use a condom the first time.' `What about the second time?' I asked, smiling. My penis was twitching back to life. I fucked her doggy style - not with such finesse this time, but she still had another huge orgasm. We fell asleep with me still inside her. The next morning I awoke first. Shelley was still huddled on the bed but all the covers had fallen off. She was gorgeous. I wondered if maybe this relationship would have some legs to it. I grabbed a robe and headed to the bathroom to clean up. When I came out, I returned to the bedroom to find Shelley gone. She wasn't upstairs and neither was Amber. I went downstairs and overheard the two girls talking in the kitchen. `I didn't realise Andrew was your dad.' Shelley said. `He is not actually my father, but he is as good as my dad. Since my mum died he has looked after me.' `He is absolutely wonderful' Shelley said in a conspiratorial whisper. `So I heard.' Amber replied in a less than happy tone. Oh dear. The conversation drifted to school gossip, so I walked into the kitchen. Amber was in her nightie. Shelley was wearing a loose fitting shirt - one of mine. A button was missing so it hung open, barely covering her breasts. `I hope you don't mind. I couldn't find my clothes so I got this out of your drawer'. `Oh, I found your clothes spread around downstairs, so I tidied them up for you both.' Amber pointed to two piles of clothes, neatly folded. We picked the clothes up and took them back to my bedroom to change into them. When I shut the door, Shelley said `There is something I wanted to do last night, and you wouldn't let me' I thought for a moment, not comprehending. Shelley reached inside my robe and retrieved my penis. I understood what she meant when she started to suck on me deeply. I allowed her to finish what she had started and soon she was swallowing down a load of my sperm. We got dressed and Shelley asked her to drop me off at her parent's house. She told me that she was probably going to get grounded for weeks for staying out all night. I kissed her goodbye then I dropped her off. As it was a Saturday I went back to my house to face the music of my own. The washing machine was going. Amber was reading a magazine. She looked up and said `I have stripped off your sheets - they were covered in body fluids.' She was angry. `Don't you want me to have a girlfriend?' I asked, defensively. `A girlfriend is fine.' `So what is the problem?' `I know her from school, Dad. I am friendly with her. How can I speak to her knowing my dad has... done it with her?' I explained that Shelley had left school now, but I knew I was losing the argument. Amber had a veto, and she was using it. No more Shelley. I explained things to Shelley at work the next day and she understood why I had to stop seeing her. She cajoled me into one final fuck in the store room, and reluctantly I obliged, leaving her pussy full of my spunk for the last time. The question of who to fuck proved a tricky one. Apart from the girls on work experience, I had already enjoyed most of the women in my office who were available and in any way attractive. Pick ups from bars were rarely the sort of woman you would want to take home to meet your daughter. A couple of weeks later it was parent's evening at the school. I had never done one of these before and I expected it to be a string of meetings with dusty teachers each giving me a rather dry list of achievements and failures, and this was largely the case until my appointment with Mrs Smith (not her real name), who was a large matronly woman. She taught art and was genuinely enthusiastic about her subject and even more so about Amber's work. `I asked Amber to concentrate on human emotion this year.' Mrs Smith explained. She showed me to a drawer and pulled out some charcoal drawings. I couldn't believe Amber had done them. They showed various pictures of her mother - just ordinary poses: reading the paper; watching TV, cooking. Each seemed to capture a sadness in her mother's eyes. `There are some slightly more... personal ones' she told me quietly. She reached into a large envelope and brought out a picture of me and her mother, both naked and apparently making love on the bed. The picture was constructed in such a way so that nothing explicit was showing (with the exception of my bottom). `These were all done after her mother's death, so they must have been from memory of perhaps photos. I think they were her way of coping with her loss.' I feebly explained that I didn't think there were any photos like that of me. The next picture was of her mother breastfeeding, naked. This was from a photo I had taken years ago that Amber must have seen. Amber had captured the enigmatic smile that her mother gave the camera. I wiped a tear from my eye. I couldn't look at anymore now. Mrs Smith packed the pictures together discreetly for me, then said `If you do one thing, please encourage her to keep up with her art, she has a true talent'. Later that evening, the girlfriend question seemed like it might be resolved when I met the last of Amber's teachers. She was Miss Jones (again, not her real name), the geography teacher. She must have been out of teacher training college quite recently. She was fairly tall but with a large chest. She wore a dowdy brown skirt and cardigan. She had large dark rimmed glasses which seemed to slip down her nose. I could see that underneath this façade she was actually very attractive - perhaps she dressed like this to keep the pubescent boys from getting out of hand. She gabbled on about grades and Amber's work - Amber intended to drop the subject next year and from her sliding grades I could see why. I was captivated by Miss Jones (or Eve as I discovered her name to be), and without her realising I steered the conversation away from Amber to her telling me about herself. She wasn't married, and hadn't had a boyfriend since university. She finished a sentence with `...and it is impossible to meet a man in this place.' She had probably told me more than she intended. `Well, you have met one tonight. Would you like to go for a drink?' Her mouth opened and closed a few times. She was probably reasoning that I couldn't be an axe murderer because I had a daughter at the school. `Oh... ok. That would be nice.' We concluded our talk about Amber then I showed her to my car and let her in. I quickly made a call to Amber. `I have a date tonight Amber, are you ok on your own?' `Yes, dad! I am not a baby anymore.' Then I whispered `Make yourself scarce tonight, about 10 o'clock.' `Dad, you are disgusting! You had better make it worth my while.' She was resorting to bribery now. The things kids learn these days. Our drink turned into a meal. By the end of the evening Eve was putty in my hands. I suggested we go back for coffee at my place. We got back to the house just after 10pm, but there was no question of coffee - Eve was gagging for a seeing to. To cut a long story short, Eve wanted sex and had a spanking fetish thrown in for good measure. It was vigorous, sweaty and noisy. There would be hell to pay from Amber in the morning. Amber was making herself breakfast when I got downstairs the following morning. `What the hell was that last night? What was going on in there?... Don't answer that!' She hadn't finished telling me off when Eve came in. The colour drained from her cheeks `Miss Jones.' Amber took her cereal with her back to her room and got dressed there without saying another word to me. The silence continued in the car - it didn't help that I had to drop Eve back at school as well as Amber. `Drop me here.' Amber ordered. She didn't want to be seen in the same car as Miss Jones, and preferred to walk the last half a mile. When she had left, I turned and spoke to Eve. `It was great fun last night, but I don't think Amber approves.' `That's putting it politely.' `I don't think we should see each other again.' `Pity. Let me know if you change your mind.' She gently kissed me, and making sure Amber was sufficiently far ahead, she got out of the car. Amber was at least talking to me when she got home. I apologised for what happened. `Why cant you find a normal girlfriend dad?' `I thought she was normal.' `How can she be normal, dad? She is my teacher!' she hissed at me. I told her I wasn't seeing Miss Jones again, but I still wanted to find someone. `Well, not anyone who is a pupil OR a teacher at my school!' `There aren't many other places for me to meet attractive single women.' `Are you telling me you cant think of a single, unattached, attractive woman?' `Not immediately no!' `No one?' Amber wasn't making this comfortable for me. `Who then?' `For goodness sake, ask Kate out!' I considered for a moment. `We had a bit of a thing a while ago. It sort of fizzled.' `There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then.' I was going to argue some more, but I honestly couldn't think of a good reason not to ask Kate out. I could have said she wasn't entirely normal either, but then who is? `And dad... ` Amber paused as she was leaving the room. `Keep the noise down.' She smiled, kissed me on the cheek and went upstairs. I had left a present for her on her bed - it was a peace offering and a treat for her report card. A set of professional quality charcoals and pastels. On the front of the her school art folder, I had left a note: `Amber, these are wonderful. Love, Dad. xxx'. From that point on, Amber was scarcely without her sketch pad and charcoals. Amber took charge of my love life from then on - she had got the impression that I was incapable of forming a lasting relationship. Maybe she was right. She stood over me when I called Kate and asked her around for a meal. She listened in on her the response (which thank goodness was positive and not X-rated). When the big day arrived, Amber tidied up, laid the table (with candles), helped with the menu and chose some appropriate romantic CDs to listen to. I must admit I was a bit flustered when the doorbell rang an hour early, but Amber calmly announced she had a sleepover with her friend Casey, and that she would see me tomorrow morning. Then she leaned towards me and quietly said `Don't mess this up!' Amber had left me written instructions to follow. I should dim the lights, light the candles, turn the romantic music on low. When Kate arrived she was amazed. I had never made this kind of fuss when we were together. I explained the nature of my daughter's evil plan. There was no point fighting it. Despite the rather contrived circumstances, it was nice to see Kate again. She was good to talk to, and made me laugh. She cared about me and Amber. When the meal was finished, we sat together on the sofa, whilst I rubbed her feet. We had made love plenty of times before, but somehow it was like we were starting again. Sensing my hesitation, Kate asked `So where is this all headed' `To my bedroom I hope.' `And then?' `Shall we play it by ear?' Kate has the most perfectly smooth, hairless pussy of any woman I have ever known. She has her foibles, sure but nothing I cant get over. Over the years, she has been a lover and a good friend to me. I took my time reacquainting my tongue with her pussy before we made long slow love before falling asleep in each other's arms. The next morning was the weekend, so we slept in together until we were awakened by a knock on the door. It was Amber - she couldn't wait to see how it had gone. `Is it ok to come in?' she asked excitedly. She had been dropped back home early by Casey's mum, and must have seen Kate's coat was still here. Although we were naked under the covers, we were otherwise decent, so I told Amber she could come in. She was itching with excitement - her excuse for coming into the bedroom was that she had made us breakfast in bed - a few slices of toast and some tea. She couldn't resist asking `So did it go alright?' `What do you think, Einstein!' was Kate's terse reply. It had gone well. Much to Amber's satisfaction, over the coming weeks Kate stayed over more and more until I suggested she moved in - who says I am afraid of commitment! It wasn't necessarily the hearts and flowers type of love that we had, but it was probably what most people experience after a few weeks of marriage - a respect and healthy enjoyment of each other. Amber remained insufferably smug. Amber continued with her art. Miss Smith was right - she did have a talent. She would often get her pad out and sketch the basic form of a picture in a matter of minutes, then spend hours over it later completing the likeness from memory. Amber had a passion for capturing emotions, but the sad eyes of her mother in her earlier pictures had now been replaced the happy faces and smiles of Kate and I. The morning breakfast in bed became a regular feature, and it would often be punctuated by her frenzied sketching, eager to capture the remains of the passion that had just occurred. One evening a few weeks after Kate had moved in, I had to work late at the office. I called home to let the girls know I was delayed, then I knuckled down to it for a couple of hours. When I finally got home that night, I opened the front door to find Kate sitting on a stool in the living room, wearing jeans and nothing else. She was staring strangely into the distance. I had no idea what was going on, but maybe I was in for a treat. `Hi honey I am home - did you miss me?' `Hi handsome. I cant move right now - I am posing for Amber.' The scene became clearer as I went further into the room. Amber was characteristically sitting cross legged on the floor, tongue peeking out of her mouth in concentration, sketching Kate. `Hi Dad. No, Don't come over! - Not until it is finished!' I sat down and enjoyed the scene, hesitating before I asked the obvious question. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me. `Why don't you have a top on?' Amber answered for Kate. `Because I am rubbish at drawing breasts. I have tried drawing myself in the mirror but there isn't much point.' It was true that Amber wasn't very developed yet, but that would change. Kate continued the explanation. `So Amber asked me if I would be her life model, and I said yes.' `Hey I am not complaining!' `Well don't get too comfortable. She says she needs practice with Willies too.' Naturally I told them there was no way Amber was getting me sitting there in front of her. `Aww Dad, it's not like I haven't seen your Willy.' It was true that I had not worried about nudity in the bathroom - that is something that is healthy within a family. Having your daughter drawing your Willy -well, I wasn't sure that was so healthy. `Absolutely not' `Pleeeeaase!' `No!' `Its ok. There is an older boy at school who will pose for me. He wont want paying either - not with money anyway.' Amber's mother had said that Amber knew how to twist me around her little finger. She was right. I knew when I was beaten. `Oh alright.' What choice did I have? `On condition that the pictures never leave this house.' Amber finished her drawing remarkably quickly, and she told Kate she was done. Kate started to put her top back on. `Hold it!' I ordered `If I am in the buff, then you have to be too' `Fine with me.' Kate retorted, stripping off her jeans until she was completely naked. `Ooh, I have more pubic hair than you!' Amber commented without thinking. `I wax my pubes. Part of the pain women put themselves through for men.' `Ouch! So why do you do it if it hurts?' `I will tell you when you are older.' Then Kate looked towards me. `Shouldn't you be naked by now?' I reluctantly started to strip off. Kate unhelpfully provided some improvised stripper music. By the time I pulled off my underwear I felt like an exhibit in a zoo. `So where do you want me?' Amber motioned towards the stool Kate had been using. She moved my arms and legs around until I had the right pose, but thought better of arranging my penis. `Er, Dad...' `Yes?' `Your Willy - it's a bit `last chicken in the shop'. Can you liven it up a bit?' `No.' Kate stepped in to help Amber at this point. She whispered something in my ear about what she was going to do to me the moment Amber had finished. My penis bobbed into life. She whispered something else. It was semi erect. `Perfect! Wow, dad.' She said, impressed. She moved in closer to see the detail then her charcoal started to flash across the paper. Kate acted as my `fluffer'. The moment my cock lost interest, she would whisper something else in my ear or stroke my cock back to life. Finally, after lots of adjustments, the picture was done. Amber was going to show us her masterpiece, but Kate was already dragging me up the stairs. After teasing my bum hole with her tongue, then gently taking each of my testicles in mouth, then she gave me the best blowjob I think I have ever had. She took my penis right down her throat, something akin to a sword swallower. My balls started to tingle, and I warned Kate I was about to come, so she pulled back ready to take my spunk in her mouth. She was still a little unprepared when I started to shoot, and some of my jism splashed onto her chin. She made a show of swallowing her mouthful of semen, then we put on our bathrobes and went downstairs. I started to sort through some of my paperwork, but heard Amber ask `What were you doing upstairs?' `I was enjoying the fruits of you dad's love.' It was a comment which was meant to go over Amber's head. It didn't. `I think there is still some fruit juice on your chin.' Kate must have wiped my semen off her face and licked it. Amber reacted, forgetting I was behind her. `Eeewww! You put it in you mouth?' `It was your dad's fertility. I could hardly wipe it with a tissue and flush it down the toilet, could I?' `Doesn't it taste... icky?' `I like it actually. You will find out all about it when you have a boyfriend.' I cleared my throat noisily to remind them I was in the room. `What else do you do?' Amber whispered. I turned around in time to see Kate doing a finger poking through a hole gesture. They both dissolved in giggles. Over time, my fears about nudity in front of Amber receded. She really only wanted to practice her art. Over the coming months she had plenty of opportunity to draw breasts and genitalia of both genders - Kate and I usually posed naked together. Amber hinted that she wanted to draw us making love, but that really was going too far. She had to settle for erotic poses, or poses which only looked like we were making love. On one occasion she expressed an interest on being in the picture herself and suggested we pose in front of the mirror in my bedroom. She told us to strip and got us into the pose she wanted, then to my surprise stripped off herself and sat between Kate and I, then started to sketch. She was becoming so beautiful - I had time to admire her slim frame, tiny breasts and lightly haired vagina which gaped open a little as she sat crossed legged. I am a little ashamed to admit it, but when it was finished, that particular picture featured me with an erection. Our happiness couldn't last. About a year after she moved in, Kate called a family meeting at the dinner table. She asked not to be interrupted whilst she told us her news. I think Amber and I were both hoping she was pregnant. `You don't know this, but it has been my dream to be in charge of my own maternity ward. I have been applying for jobs regularly for the past five years, and usually I don't even get a response, let alone an interview. Last week, I had an interview and I have just heard that they have offered me the job. It really is my dream job, and I am going to take it' `That's brilliant!' amber responded `are you going to earn loads of money? Are you going to get a flash car?' I stepped in. `I think there might be a `but'.' `The `but' is that the job is in Edinburgh.' `But that's hundreds of miles away.' Then the truth dawned on Amber. `You are going to leave us?' she asked quietly. `I am going to move to Edinburgh' Amber couldn't cope with the news and rushed upstairs sobbing. I felt like doing the same thing. `Is there anything I can do to make you change your mind?' `No.' `If I asked you to marry me?' `We both know you don't want that. This last year has been the best year of my life, but it is time to move on.' We embraced a long, heartfelt embrace. Then I went upstairs to console Amber. Amber wasn't happy about it, but there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Kate was at pains to remind her that we could holiday in Scotland with her as often as we wanted. Determined not to spoil the few weeks we had left together, Amber and I both put on our happy faces. The final day arrived. As a favour to Kate, I had arranged to purchase her old flat (which she had let out to a gay couple, who would remain as the tenants). She would at least have the funds to find somewhere new. Always on the lookout for real emotion, Amber sketched our last, long embrace. Finally she could sketch no more and ran to hug us both. Her bags packed, I dropped Kate at the airport. Amber and I waved goodbye with a cheeriness that neither of us felt.