“I know. You do our taxes every   
year,” I interrupted. Another thing    
Beth didn't know about, but now she    
did. I looked over at her, and she     
didn't look mad or anything. She was   
actually smiling at me.                
     “And,” Darryl continued, “I also  
know that unless you just won some kind
of lottery or inherited a boatload of  
money, there is no way you have that   
kind of money just laying around.”     
     I thought about that for a minute,
“I don't know Dr. D. We have enough    
equity on the house, I think I could   
probably swing another mortgage, maybe 
rob a bank, so there's no way to know  
for sure. At least, not one hundred    
percent anyway,” I said.               
     I looked at everyone, one at a    
time, and then added, “until the Cat   
* tells you herself, and that’ll be in     
about...” I looked at my watch, and it 
was almost quarter after seven, “almost
exactly five hours from now.           
     “And here's the kicker. Since that
ten thousand is only an advance, when  
the job is done, and of course, if the 
Cat is real, we each get another forty 
thousand. And, another half million    
each, if we help spring her two buddies
later.”                                
     Mouse spoke up first, after that  
bombshell, “So you guys aren't getting 
married?” She looked at Beth for       
confirmation.                          
     “Of course, we're getting         
married,” I said without thinking, “but
first, I like everyone's idea about    
making a formal proposal in front of   
friends.”                              



CHAPTER 14: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st
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