In London, I owe immense thanks to the Barber family, Patti, Richard, Edward, Grace, and most particularly Harriet, whose unerring ear for contemporary London idiom has kept me on the straight and narrow throughout; as well as to Roger Tagholm for professional advice; to Frances Stevenson of Curtis Brown and to Joseph Thompson for advice about the theater; to Sheila Ebbutt and John Raftery for inspiring the wedding venue; and, in Hastings, to Josephine Fairley of Judges Bakery for advice about wedding cakes.

In America, my thanks go to Deborah Kolar for professional help; to Geoffry White, Ph.D., of Los Angeles, and John Hargrove, M.D., of Eugene, Oregon, for psychological and physical medical background, respectively; to Elizabeth Montez for inspiring Lulu’s career choice; to Michael Tschetter for providing bachelor humor; to Candi Lira, Cynthia Medeiros, and Kimberley Wells for unending moral support; and to Brian Letscher and the funny, sunny, and wise women of the Penmar Park exercise class for helping me stay sane.

And at last, and of course, I salute my wonderful husband, Owen Bjørnstad, who has my love, always.