I thought you could be still in on Saturday working, unlike everyone else. You really do need to get a life…oh sorry. I want to make an appointment ...efore this jerk…Afghanistan…airlifted to Egypt I understand…knee…has given up on it, limps…not yet thirty…what now? Are you sure, it’s late Saturday afternoon? Right away…yes sure. Magnificent. Thank you Mr Slater.’ Carla turned to Mr Grumpy. ‘One of the foremost orthopedic surgeons in the country is waiting to see you.’ ‘Well lady do I have news. He retreated. Her eyes were fixed on his. She smiled. Moving close to him, she lightly brushed her fingertips through the soft hair on his chest. He gasped, and held her hand still in his own. She reached up with her other hand, and now held his hand in a warm embrace."Come on, Michael," she said, pulling him in the direction of his bedroom. For a moment, he resisted. "No," he said, "we can't do this. Let's stop it now before things get out of hand." "They're already well in hand, Michael, and. He had decided this was the perfect time to hatch his plan. The plan could be sprung at any time and he could just wait until Thomas showed up drunk, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Finally, the day came. Fall had worn away and Winter was beginning to bring its icy touch. The Reverend was as busy as could be with preparation for the yearly Christmas Cantata, but that didn’t make him less attentive to Thomas’s state when he came to the door that fateful Friday night. Thomas staggered to. Only joy. Only happiness. Even from a distance, even though he didn’t know who she was, she was saving him. A treasure he did not yet possess and still she was already invaluable to him. His heart had ached much over the week long journey to this village where mountains and sea met. He had visions of her running. Running away. From him? In fear? No, in sheer terror. He couldn’t get his mind around it. Usually, when he had visions, they were clear as day – both in how he saw and interpreted.