Why thank you, Arawn - that's one terrific compliment, considering what's out there.
For some reason, while I was writing that one it became vitally important to me that the entire story took place during the one night and had to be wrapped up before morning.
If it hadn't been, I'd have let Lois walk out and then resolved the argument after a day or so. And I agree that would have been a more natural pacing.
I have no idea now why it was important to me to condense everything into that short period of time. Just know it was at the time.
LabRat