He grinned and planted another kiss, this one on my forehead. “Poor Mini-Fern,” he said. “If only she knew she was going to grow up and meet such a hot wonderful man.”

“Which everyone knows cures you of all mental health issues.”

“Oh yeah. That’s what I was teaching the kids today. Freud was very clear on this—get laid, hysteria vanishes.”

We’d not mentioned the previous night, but, with his arms around me, and him laughing gently into my hair, I felt maybe it didn’t matter. That having him, like this, was enough. Maybe...

When I was convinced Ben could just about pull everything together, I went and got ready. Jessica’s imminent arrival made me up my game, and, after showering and spritzing my naked body with perfume as if I was a Bond girl, I stepped into a black, backless halter neck dress, adorning it only with a red lip stain and piling my hair on top of my head.

“Hubba hubba,” Ben said as I stepped out into the living room, now complete, with a laid table and the scent of bubbling cheese. He practically ran over, claiming my body with his hands. “You look amazing, Fern.”

“Did you just say hubba hubba?”

“Please still sleep with me.” He pawed at my naked back and kissed my neck. I closed my eyes, savoring this feeling of temporary power over him. For all the times Ben said how much he wanted me to “feel comfortable and look natural,” he didn’t half give me the most attention when I’d made the most effort. He ran his hands down my arms and I pulled away. “Be careful, you’ll get makeup on your fingers.”

“You’ve put makeup on your scars?”

I tugged my arms behind my back. “Just a little. Don’t want to scare your colleagues.”

“They’re from the psychology department, Fern.”

“Yeah, still.” I smiled brightly, just as the bell went. “That will be Jessica.”

“Let me quickly get dressed. See you in a sec.”

I buzzed Jessica in, and checked my reflection as I waited for her to knock. I smacked my stained lips together and smiled at myself. The door went and my heart temporarily flew into my throat. This was it. The introduction of old world to new. A twinge of paranoia ached through me and I hoped I’d made the right decision. But Jessica seemed so different from the girl I’d known, wiser, more self-aware, less of a threat, and...still stunning as I opened the door.

“Hi,” she said nervously, waving with a bottle of expensive-looking red wine in her hand. “I’m not too early am I?”

I took the wine and hugged her thin frame. “Not at all! Come in. You can leave your bag in our room when Ben’s finished changing.”