“ ‘There’s no way in the world you could run off to Europe with me,’ I said. ‘You need the treatment that Dr. Rowan is giving you at the medical center, don’t you?’

“She sighed. She nodded. ‘It was a dream, running away. They’re giving me hormone treatments and all kinds of nutrients, I don’t know. I’m in and out all during the week. I’m wired up for two and three hours at a stretch. I don’t think there’s much progress. I wanted to fly away. It was wrong of me to involve you in my dream, to let you believe it with me for a little while.’

“ ‘I don’t mind,’ I said. ‘I don’t have to go. In fact, I won’t go. Not as long as we can see each other, and I think they trust us now. I think they know that I won’t hurt you, and you know it too.’

“There came a rap at the door.

“Time for supper, and I was cordially invited to join them downstairs. In fact, they wouldn’t hear of my not joining them, and after a quick call to Jasmine to report my whereabouts I appeared in the dining room to find Mona—attired in another gorgeous white shirt with billowing sleeves, this time over a tropical print miniskirt-shorts combination that was, if anything, more sexy than her bare panties had been earlier—and Michael and Rowan, somewhat formally attired.

“Michael looked quite the gentleman in his seersucker three-piece suit, and Rowan wore a lovely simple navy blue dress with a bold triple strand of pearls.

“Only on second glance did it register that Mona had put on Aunt Queen’s cameo and that it looked beautiful at her throat.

“To my utter amazement Stirling Oliver of the Talamasca had come to join us and in keeping with the mild late spring weather he wore a white three-piece suit with a lemon yellow tie. I remember that tie for some reason. I don’t know why. I remember men’s ties. His gray hair was clipped short, combed straight back from his temples, and he looked like a man in his sixties of excellent health.

“They were all vivid impressive people and the house in no way overpowered them or diminished their easy charm.

“I was very glad to see Stirling again and had a strong sense that Aunt Queen would be disturbed if she knew. As it was I had little choice in the matter and that felt very comfortable for me.

“ ‘I saw your friend, Goblin, outside,’ he said confidentially, as he shook my hand. ‘He indicated you wished to be on your own.’

“ ‘Are you serious?’ I asked. ‘Did you really see him and talk to him?’