Pippa's head appeared around the door. She was wearing one of Luke's capacious white bathrobes over her nightdress, and had obviously just gotten out of bed. But her eyes were bright, and she looked well. In fact, she looked like the old vigorous Pippa, and he could shrug aside the stillness that had worried him while she slept.

He came to stand in front of her, grinning. She grinned back, and the next moment they were in each other's arms, laughing, bear hugging with pleasure.

"Oh, boy, is it good to see you'." he yelled. "Pippa! My Pippa, after all this time. Let me look at you." He held her away. "Still as ugly as ever, I see. Yuk!"

''Yuk yourself. What any woman ever saw in you I can't imagine. You were bad enough then, but now you're a disaster. Fat-balding-"

"And you should see my dandruff." he agreed.

They exploded into laughter again, hugging each other and dancing around the kitchen. Josie watched them with glee, cramming her mouth full, and chuckling between bites.

''Sit down and have some supper,'' he said, pointing her to a bar stool.

"Can I just have some coffee now and come bad when I've had a shower?"

''Your wish is my command. Fresh coffee coming up."

She took the cup he offered and turned to leave, but Josie forestalled her, calling, "Mummy, did you know that while we're here, you're Mommy?"

"I had a feeling I might be." She smiled at Josie. "Mommy it is."

"Come and sit down," Josie commanded.

"Well, I-" Pippa slipped a hand into the pocket of the bathrobe and fingered the pills that she must take very soon.

"I want to tell you all about the beach," Josie persisted.

"Just a moment, then I must go and have a shower." She sat down at the bar beside her daughter, who launched into a vigorous description of the last few hours, which had obviously been pure heaven to her. Pippa listened contentedly. This was exactly what she'd hoped for when she came here. All would be well.