He laughed and they walked in silence as the bright yellow and orange of the sun reflected on the crashing waves.

Barry pulled Samantha closer. “Everyone else is so frightened of what’s going to happen next. But I’m excited. And now I’ve got you.”

“I love you, Barry,” Samantha whispered in his ear as the waves came in and gently tickled her toes.

When Frankie got Charlie up at five-thirty in the morning to go on his rounds, he had developed a fever which she believed was due to an infection in his foot.

“Charlie, I’m going to take you home. I’ll call Samantha.”

Charlie mumbled, “Call her. She must be worried about me by now. Do you have her numbers?”

“Yes. You rest.” She lowered her voice. “I want you to see your doctor today.”

“I saw my doctor. You took care of me,” he mumbled.

“I’m telling Samantha to take you to a doctor. You rest and I’ll be right back.”

Frankie went into her office and dialed Samantha at home and her cell phone. Perhaps it was because Frankie was trained as a pediatrician, her instinct was to get in touch with Charlie’s parent or guardian. Frankie thought of calling Pippa Rose to find out if there was some after-benefit party that Samantha might be at. But she didn’t want to disturb the entire Rose family. Remembering that Judy Tremont got up every morning at five-thirty for Pilates, Frankie decided to bite the bullet and call her.

“Judy, it’s Dr. Francesca Weissman. I hope I haven’t disturbed you.”

“I thought I wasn’t your patient anymore.” Judy’s voice, even this early, was blunt. “I already have another doctor Arnie Berkowitz found for me. It’s Lucinda Moore on East Seventy-fourth and I adore her.” Judy was ready to hang up.

“She’s a wonderful choice,” Frankie answered quickly, and got to the point. “Judy, do you happen to know if there was another event after that benefit in Brooklyn last night? I need to know where Samantha Acton is.”

“I’m afraid, Dr. Weissman, everyone in New York is talking about where Samantha Acton is. Clarice Santorini walked in on her and Barry with his pants down.”

“What?” Judy, as always, was offering much more than Frankie bargained for.