I hung up the phone and just burst into tears, grabbing for a tissue. I was so happy and so overwhelmed to hear her say that she loved me, and to say ...hose words to her myself. Eventually, I wore down and recovered, just in time for the kids to get home.I was so happy after my conversation with Karen that I played with the children for hours, almost forgetting to make dinner. They all noticed a difference in my behavior from the last few days, and told me they were "Glad that you're glad again,. "There's more to it, isn't there?" Suzanne asked. "Is this about Maggie?" Don't," whispered Jack, holding up his hands as if to ward off an attack."I loved her too, Jack. She was almost like a mother to me." Please. Don't." Jack closed his eyes and leaned his head against the tall back of his chair."I'm sorry," Suzanne said in a soft voice. "It needs to be said." God damn it!" Jack was angry now.What was it about women that they just couldn't leave things alone? He stood and paced to the window. ." No - it's too close to Mom's - I mean your room," Patrick said as he pulled up his shorts. "I can hear everything sometimes." Why do you still come down and stand at the door if you can hear so well?" Jack said with a smile."So I can hear better," Patrick answered sheepishly with a red face, probably from a combination of embarrassment and exertion. "Sounded like you were killing her in the beginning." You must have heard noises back when your Dad was here," Jack said."Not like that,". For she seemed like a woman possessed, driven by something deep within and her slim frame was to the point of being gaunt, there were dark circles beneath her beautiful green eyes and there was a desperateness to her demeanor that bespoke volumes about her quest. Sleep quickly claimed Gabriella and dreams haunted her as each night since the voyage began. There were screams of pain, the sounds of boots scraping against the decking and the clang of swords. Groggily she surfaced and realized that.