Luke joined her on the balcony. "Seaside!" he echoed with mock indignation. "That's more than just seaside."

Pippa made her way out to join them. Luke greeted her with a grin. "Your mom took me to a seaside resort in England once," he told Josie.

"And you said 'You don't call this a beach, do you?'" Pippa reminded him. "I grew up on a real beach.'"

"And you said, 'Whadda ya mean, "a real beach"?'"

"This is a real beach," Josie said ecstatically. "No pebbles, just miles and miles of sand. Can we go and see it now?"

"Not now," Pippa said quickly. She could feel her strength running out by the minute.

''Oh please, Mummy."

"What about jet lag after that long flight?" Luke asked.

"I haven't got jet lag, honestly, I haven't," Josie insisted.

"But your mom has. She's an old lady and she needs her rest." He grinned at Pippa. "You do look done in. Go and crash while I take Josie to the beach."

There was nothing she wanted so much. She returned to their room and made a conscientious effort to finish the unpacking, but suddenly weariness came over her like a wave and she lay down thankfully on the bed.

She was aware of Luke slipping into the room and drawing the curtains against the light. He neared the bed, and his footsteps paused for a long moment, as though he'd stopped to gaze at her, then he left the room. As she heard the door close behind him, Pippa's mind was beginning the slide into blissful sleep, trying not to heed the thoughts that reached out to snag her on the way.

What will you do when you can't use jet lag as an excuse? You're a young woman and you move like an old one…always out of breath…always needing an excuse to lie down…what about when the pain comes? Dear God, let this go well! Josie is going to need her father so much… Don't let them suspect before I'm ready to tell them…