"What happened?" asked Sieglind, who'd immediately laid one hand on the small of Hilde's back while the other wrapped on the arm nearest to her.
Hilde began to suspect that the older woman was the "touchy-feely" type, one who had no notion of physical boundaries. Not wanting to snub her a second time, she merely smiled and answered, "My insides suddenly felt all hollow."
For some godforsaken reason, Sieglind interpreted that statement in the most offbeat way possible.
"It's alright," she repeated, this time right by Hilde's ear. Again. "Some men just have that effect—it simply means you're an ordinary woman if you're affected."
Even though she couldn't deny she was indeed an "ordinary woman," Hilde was miffed at not only being misunderstood but also for being talked down to. Add to tha
