"Why so pensive?" Rachel asked."I was thinking about Sarah and about Henry." Not about Sarah and Henry?" No. I don't think either of them is matrimoni...ally inclined right now." I'd told Rachel about the three cartons and Henry's phone calls."Henry won't get an answer from Honolulu, you know." Why not?" What academic is available on January 2nd? With a weekend impending. I doubt whether he'll be able to talk to anyone much before Tuesday morning." Tuesday?" Dateline, sweetheart." God! I'm stupid!. "Why don't you remove your tie, too and roll up your sleeves," she said. I did. Taking a couple deep breaths to calm my nerves, I placed my hands on her shoulders and began to knead. "Relax," she said. I grabbed a couple more breaths. "Open your hands and press with your body. Use smooth strokes. Don't push my spine. Work around it. Ah, that's good. I used to be a masseuse." Really?" I said. She had always been an elegant rich mother."Yes. That's how I met my husband. Do you mind if I take off. ” She bit her lower lip and stared at me.“No,” I said, turning away, “you can hang there all night. I want the names.”She sobbed, her back shaking. I fetched another pitcher of water from upstairs and returned. I held the pitcher to her face and let her drink and then I poured what was left down her back. It was pretty cold in that cellar. She shivered and gooseflesh appeared on her arms and legs.I found another iron spike, drove it into the wall six inches higher and lifted her up to it. Now. Not her usual bubbly self at all. A week ago though, things took a dramatic change, one I would never had imagined in a thousand years! D was spending the weekend with us in our house in South Devon and we had all been soaking up the sun and taking the occasional dip in the pool to cool off. As usual Sue had gone topless and as usual D kept covered up, more’s the pity I thought! After freshening up we had a luscious evening barbecue helped down with a bottle or two of Pinot Grigio, relaxed on.
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