Read The Swiss Family RobinZOM (Book 4) for Free Online Page A

Which is why I get my meals from outside the home. It’s delicious, it’s tasty, and it comes in a variety of flavours.”
    Bill thought for a moment before speaking.
    “There’s a woman I see every day on the tram,” he said. “I don’t know who she is, where she comes from… But I get the sense she’s been on adventures, travelled the world, done things I can only dream of. I’ve always wanted to ask her about her life.”
    Dennis smiled broadly, crooked teeth beaming. He slapped Bill hard on the back.
    “For a while there I’d rather given up hope on you, Bill,” he said. “You always seemed so straight-laced, so in control .”
    He said it like it was a bad thing.
    “I knew you had a weakness somewhere,” he said. “Now it’s finally coming out.”
    “What are you talking about?” Bill said.
    Dennis smiled. He leaned in close.
    “I know exactly what you mean,” he said. “This girl you see every day on the tram. She’s young I take it? Attractive?”
    “Yes,” Bill said.
    He paused.
    “You think I… And she…” he said, waving his hands and snorting through his nose. “No, no, no. It’s nothing like that. She just looks interesting, that’s all.”
    “We all think like that at the beginning,” Dennis said. “You need an outlet, Bill. You need to find a way to release all this built up tension you have, otherwise you’re going to explode. You need to find some excitement in your life.”
    “My wife and kids-”
    “ ‘-are all the excitement I need’,” Dennis said. “I know, I’ve used that one myself too. That’s fine for the wife, but what about in the real world?”
    “How do you release it?” Bill said.
    “Oh, there are many ways to release it,” Dennis said. “As many ways as there are sins. You just have to find the right way for you, that’s all.”
    He leaned in close. Bill could smell the cheese on his breath. Dennis checked over his hefty shoulders and lowered his voice.
    “There’s a lady or two I like to go see now and then,” he said. “You know, get a little check-up and keep the old ticker going. A life without a little adventure isn’t a life at all, Bill. I thought you’d have figured that out by now.”
    He dug back into his macaroni and cheese.
    “If you want, we can talk about it more tonight,” he said. “A swift drink after work maybe?”
    “No, sorry,” Bill said, and he was surprised to find he actually did feel sorry. “I can’t tonight. I have to leave early to see Ernest in a trivia competition.”
    “Living life to its fullest, I see,” Dennis said, shovelling another spoonful of cheese into his face.
    “Wait,” Bill said. “Isn’t your daughter Jenny on the team too?”
    “She doesn’t want me there anymore than I want to be there myself,” Dennis said. “While you’re forcing yourself to stay awake I’ll be forcing myself not to be too relaxed. But I’m sure you’ll have a great time.”
    Bill bit into his sandwich. It tasted as good as it looked.

IV
     
    The tram was half empty, the majority of the usual passengers still at work. Bill sat his briefcase on the seat beside him, thankful to have some real space for a change.
    The tram slowed down and came to a stop. No passengers got off. Only one got on. Bill glanced up. He froze. The woman in the red dress took a seat two rows ahead of him.
    Bill spun the wedding band around his finger. He pulled it up slightly, revealing the white weathered skin underneath, but couldn’t bring himself to remove it completely. Instead he wrapped his jacket over his hand. Bill took off his fedora, dry-swallowed, and then pulled up the collar of his shirt.
    He got to his feet and stepped toward the woman. He stopped, half turned around, and then headed forward again. He stood beside her, his heart beating like a drum.
    “Excuse me,” Bill said.
    She looked up at him, her smile finding her eyes, dazzling.
    “May I take this seat?” Bill said, gesturing to the seat beside