She was always tired andshe hardly slept or ate.“You’ve lost almost twenty pounds,” the nutritionistsaid in alarm. Her father was an...gry and afraid he waslosing her, and that pleased her, but the thoughtmade her cough uncontrollably.Her drawings improved rapidly. It was as ifeverything that was good and strong within her fledout through her fingertips and into her drawings.Her health and her relationships deteriorated.“My only pleasure, my only joy,” she whispered. We still want each other just as much - and as often - as we did at eighteen.When we have recovered a little and are holding each other close I say to Erik. "This afternoon YOUR daughter told me why they go to their grandparents each time you're coming back." Oh, just what did she say?"I tell him the whole conversation, bringing a laugh and a tight hug. Then I add, "And you'll never guess what she wants for her birthday."He doesn't even try to guess and I tell him about the vibrator. He smiles. It's quite amazing. There's that volcano in Iceland, too. I wish I understood more about geology." You just want to know everything!" Of course. That way I'll never get bored. You know Fitz Roy, the Captain of the Beagle, thought the seashells and fossils in the Andes were the traces of the Biblical flood. He insisted that Darwin's notions about millions of years were mere blasphemy and that the world was under 6000 years old. All strong beliefs are the enemies of science." What about all those. Vincenzo leaned his large, tan, muscular body close to whisper in her ear, "yes." His voice was low and husky, the sound causing Alaina to shiver convulsively. "Are you cold my dear? I'm sure you and I could think up wonderful ways to keep you warm." The husky suggestion caused another shiver to rack Alaina's small frame. Vincenzo towered above her, the strong Italian all male charm. Slowly his head descended to brush gently against Alaina's full lower lip. Once, twice, three times, causing.