<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>… he orders what may be an elaborate drink ... interesting! ... he asks if I need mine freshened …</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">“I'm good for the moment, Peter. Thank you.”</span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>… and he dissembles as he often does ... part thinking out loud and part covering while he thinks ... when he runs down, I take a tiny sip and set my glass down …</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">“I apologize for how I behaved the last time we met. I was under significant emotional duress and hadn't slept, not that those are ever acceptable excuses for being rude to a friend. I know you didn't intend to cause ... unhappiness. I do trust your honor Peter and I apologize for behaving otherwise.”</span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>… the waiter approaches with Peter's drink ... appears to be a variation on a Manhattan ... when it is set down, I lift my martini glass to the center of the table between us …</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">“May we toast to moving forward? Together? Friends if not partners?”</span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>… for him to decide …</em></span></span><br/>