Chapter 10

Mary Redferne

I sit down on the couch with a drink in my hand as I wait for Joseph’s call to get over. He was about to have his first drink with me when his telephone rang loudly. He was gone for almost fifteen minutes before he returned with a dejected look on his face.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to drink.” Joseph's expression was soft but firm as he declined my invitation to join me for a drink. His refusal caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Why not?" I asked, feeling a bit disappointed. "I thought you might were about to give in."

Joseph hesitated for a moment before explaining, "It's not that I don't want to, but my mother has a rule about drinking around women when you are alone with them. She told me it’s only okay to drink if you are alone with your girlfriend or your wife. Because sometimes in a drunk state men might end up doing something disrespectful towards the lady or maybe just end up making her feel uncomfortable and