"All fixed, Dr. Holden? I hope you've had a pleasant flight!"

Vicky put a finger in her mouth and bit it hard. The man who'd watched her bring herself off was her family's doctor. Since she never went to the doctor much, she'd forgotten the fact that Dr. Holden had grown a beard the past year. She stared red-faced at her lap. She didn't think she'd be able to even get up when the plane finally arrived at Rocksford.

The stewardess made sure Vicky was buckled in and moved on. The plane nosed down more and clouds streaked close to the windows. In a little bit Vicky would be able to see the lights of Rocksford. She glanced across the aisle and found Dr. Holden looking at her. He was smiling.

"Vicky? Vicky McNarey?"

"Yes?" she said, her voice almost a whisper. She was blushing again and digging at her palm with a fingernail.

"I thought that was you." He fingered his beard. He didn't look so old now, Vicky thought. He started to say something, stopped, started again.

"Listen my dear, I know you must be embarrassed."

Vicky started to get up but remembered they were landing. Her seat belt tugged her down again. She looked around like a caged animal. Why was he saying all this? Why didn't he just leave her alone? She wanted to jump out the window. If she'd had a parachute, she might've considered that very thing.

"… really, it's nothing to be upset about," Dr. Holden went on, "and I even remarked to myself as I watched you just how perfectly normal you went about it." He cleared his throat in a professional way. "Perfectly normal in every respect. In fact I was impressed by the way you went ahead right there in your seat.