sounded at Aver

d softly, "your dad

d placed it back on the bedside

llway, two familiar figures were w

ad

iled b

nie

brother

t you so

opping bags onto

nd have

sity immediat

t is

navy jewelry box an

en

gold bracelet with delicate ivy

s eyes

gorg

arms around

nk y

ad you

d affectionately

n a silk scarf and a l

n-year-old Scotch whisky and several local del

g room was fill

rst time i

completel

*

d the dining table, Danie

o.

have you

two m

smi

ng it's a l

y no

t

ed pleasant

lready

s arranged add

a relieved gla

ll.

ood is happy, t

nodded

s the baby

etween you and Ad

owered

e suddenly

nned to tel

r di

t.

sed to stay in

*

he table, accompanied by rosemary potatoes, honey-gl

an on a ch

nimatedly abou

he last of his savings into Daniel's small

rcial contracts, the company was prepar

as looking

smiled

o sell my devel

l loo

ad

waved h

inking about

isn't what i

etting

est in somethin

ediately u

ed to back

ked across the

nd

ly decided

over and to

etting m

outh, tears instant

any years

finally

miled s

never

nyth

father had do

s life unable to let go o

hap

final

nd the table couldn

Avery had to s

d down at

e quiet

wants a

le

ecame deat

lowered his

ooked su

sad

hful

xpected this d

ad never truly

re legal husband and wife, t

had never vis

once stepped thro

d Helen prepared thoughtful hampers f

always accepted

quietly redistributed a

sn't nearly

ousekeeper to throw the gifts away w

elf had sim

't any poi

ng ba

ably been inevitabl

e the sile

until the b

r tha

ng to St

spoken to Prof

smile

s exactly what

ways been

career you've wor

what you

ys have me o

led throu

nk y

sighed

were full

is my

ave let you shoul

inary peop

ve in a completely

hook he

N

this c

l live w

ly passed h

versation drifted to

end of

d returned

omething she'd a

r what h

always h

*

whil

London's oldest and most exc

r came to a stop outside

longed to the

w.

ed to som

lowered the

an, his profile illuminated by the

ered on the f

dable flickered

gr

ng

aps

t, he looked away

hone

d almost i

s up,

voice came thr

e are

starv

let me touch dinne

voice f

e

us

r to wait anoth

chuckled

're hun

ead an

e there

ed the

ast look at the br

crushed the cigaret

silently away int