“It’s that guy, isn’t it? The one that’s been lingering around the gallery.” “Uh-huh” I affirmed. “So, what’s the deal?” She ques...ioned. “The deal is, he asked me to the theatre this Saturday and I turned him down, and now I’m sort of wishing I’d at least thought about it.” “Honey, I know you don’t have a damn thing going on this Saturday.” She was right. My evening was going to consist of eating a half gallon of Ben & Jerry’s and watching Golden Girl reruns until I can’t keep my eyes open. . ‘You’re the one with the local knowledge,’ she said. But she started packing up her laptop anyway. At the station, Tom parked in the five minute zone and walked Bella to the platform. ‘I’ve really enjoyed today,’ she said. ‘And thank you for lunch. You’re a man of many talents.’ And then she gave him a hug and a kiss that felt, to Tom at least, rather more than just perfunctory. Talk about confusing signals. When Tom checked his email the following morning, there was a brief note from Bella. I chuckled as I walked out of the store and back to the dock.Grace was seated leaning against the table with the sun on her face and long slim legs. She had released two buttons of her khaki shirt and looked stunning ... as usual."Did everything come out alright?" she grinned."Yes, Grace, paperwork and all."Of course, she was thinking of one thing and I was talking of something else entirely.The ferry arrived, unloaded, loaded and we were off. Lake Wakatipu is in the shape of an elongated N,. Over all a classical decoration theme keeps the feel of the house somber, but Mellisa has added paintings and works of art reflecting her own pleasures, statues of fairies and dragons, paintings with dragons and unicorns.Her third year of school has only just begun. She's had three weeks to meet her classmates and teachers as she learns her schedule and they've just finished reviewing the material that was covered last year. Mellisa doesn't care much for her new Professor teaching ancient.