It took just that long for her world to fracture and collapse. He wasn't planning to take her back to the States with him. He'd just told her so. Tactfully, kindly, but unmistakably.

The sound of her own voice amazed her. It didn't sound like someone who was fighting not to scream "Not long now, is it?"

"Two weeks."

Not as much as that, she thought. One week and five days. She knew it by heart.

He rolled over and looked down at her. "We've had some great times, haven't we?"

"Wonderful, but-" she took her courage in her hands "-do they really need to end?"

The light was poor, but just enough for her to see the sudden tension in his face. She hastened to add, "I mean-you could get an extension."

"Oh, that. No, my time is up and your Immigration Department won't extend it. I did ask. No dice."

So he wanted to stay with her, she thought, clutching at straws. There was still time for him to ask her to go with him. But the time slipped by without a word, and suddenly it was the last day, and his plane was leaving at noon.

She went with him to the airport, and they sat sipping coffee while they waited for his call. There was a pain in the middle of her chest, like a heavy stone, and she didn't know how it was possible to endure that pain and keep smiling, but somehow it was. He was going, and he was happy about it. She didn't have to ask to know that his heart wasn't breaking. His thoughts had already leaped ahead to California.

She went with him to the gate, and at the last minute he threw his arms about her in a bear hug. "I'll never forget you, Pippa."

"Yes, you will," she said merrily. "There'll be some beauty in the next seat. You'll take one look at her and I'll vanish."

Deny it! Please deny it!

"Wretch!" he said, tweaking her nose. "That's what you think of me, is it?"

"This is the last call for-"