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It's hot? Well, I can't have that. Let's see what we can do about making you more comfortable… First, I think your tie needs to go…

[After 'playing' with Lachlan I feel much more relaxed. Stretching out on the bed with our voices lowered, we engage in a little long-distance pillow talk over the phone. During our conversation, I notice, no matter what he's talking about, he has a positive view of the reasons things have happened or will happen. I stand up and cross to the settee. As I sit and look out the window at the new city I've been led to, I listen to Lachlan tell me about his first flight, his first night in Big Sur, meeting Ann, Uma, Clarity, Kathy... He speaks with deep sincerity of the things and people he cares about.

He giggles as he telling me about the blonde flight attendant who kept flirting with him. I ask Lach why he didn't return the attention, he laughs and says. "I don't let blokes anywhere near my cockpit, Gracie."

I don't suppose the guy could help it. Neither can I. Lachlan is quite irresistible. Under his playful spirit is a man with a lot of heart.

Once we've sufficiently worn out the phone, I reluctantly let him go. I can picture him lying across the bed, in his shorts, his hair mussed and a smile on his face that I can hear in his voice…and I wish I was there…or he was here…

The next morning I get up early, determined to push past the lingering apprehension that keeps me from fully embracing the second chance at life I've been given. So what if I hate the idea of stepping foot into my house again…or that I'm sorely out of practice making friends? I have the opportunity to change a few things for the better, but it won't happen until I shake off my anxieties instead of letting them hang on my shoulders like dead weight. Jason may have battered and bruised my soft exterior, but he didn't destroy the strong woman within.

Two hours later, I reach my house. I expected my nerve to have waned by now, leaving me to sit parked in view of the house but fear keeping me from venturing any closer. Instead, I pull into the drive, activate the garage door and casually pull in and park as though I were just here yesterday. There's a familiarity to my actions, as there should be. But, I feel something different as I approach the door and set my key in the lock. I feel disconnected from the house. It's just a house now, not my home anymore.

Stepping inside, the house is, of course, just as I left it. I remember cleaning it. Surprisingly, my first thought is not to the frenzied reason behind why I cleaned it, but that aside from the refrigerator filled with food that's just beginning to spoil, the house is in perfect condition to be sold. It's actually a beautiful house in an upscale neighborhood. And, if I am to believe my realtor, who, during the walkthrough, is fawning over the architecture, the crown molding, high-end appliances, and several other details that I could care less about..."Buyers will be clamoring to put down an offer."

Being in the house isn't as disturbing as I had thought...maybe that's because I'm not allowing it to be...but it isn't exactly pleasant either. On my suggestion, the realtor and I go back to her office. After more discussion and even more paperwork, my house is officially on the market.

A sense of relief washes over me as I pull up in front of the Lodge. Keys in one hand, phone in the other, I'm already dialing Lachlan's number as I step inside my room. It's not until he picks up that I realize I have no idea what time it is in Singapore.]

Hi, Lach. It's Grace. Did I wake you?

Kind of a big thing for me. I met with a realtor and got everything in order to get my house sold. It was a little hard to step foot in the house again, considering…Well, I thought it would be harder than it actually was. But, I felt kind of numb when I went inside. And I wasn't there very long. I'm still trying to consider whether or not I want to go back and get anything I may want to keep. I'll figure it out. For now, I'm just glad that the realtor is positive I'll be able to get my asking price…

Only 48 hours until I get to see you again? I can't wait either. I'll have to have something special waiting for you…

Your turn now. I want to hear what you've got to tell me. I don't want to keep you up, though. I can't have you falling asleep during your flight. I want you to come back in one piece. So, give me a little preview of your news…

Alright. Get plenty of sleep so you can bring your 'usual lovely self' back here to me soon. I promise to have you feeling anything but lonely and bored...Good night, Lach.

[As soon as I get off of the phone with Lach, I realize how empty the room sounds. I had friends before I met Jason. Moving us across the country and the fact that Jason was a controlling bastard had a little something to do with the fact I had no friends…until now.

But my family…it occurs to me suddenly that since coming out of the book, I haven't tried contacting any of my family…

I pick up my phone again and dial my sister's number…a female voice answers, but it isn't my sister. I verify the number…apologize for bothering her then hang up. It's pretty much the same with my older sister's and then my father's numbers.

I log onto the laptop computer I had the insight to bring from my house. It's a good thing the Lodge has Internet access…too bad after two hours of searching…I can't find once damn piece of information on my family.

Now, I've just wasted another hour on the phone speaking to yet another friend of my sister's, brother's, dad's…my aunt. Anyone I can think of who may know…anything.

Nothing.

Something in my head is telling me it's pointless to try to find them.

Damn.

This is exactly what happened when I tried to speak to anyone I know should know Jason.

What did I think was going to happen? Terry lost his family also. Henry didn't come out of the film with him.

So, I managed to escape the abusive constraints of my book…but at the expense of my family and anyone else I may have known.

Is that what happened to every one of the guys who came out of their films? They came out alone…without any family they may have had…or any chance of ever finding them?

I lean back in the chair while I glance around the room. I feel completely alone.

I need to eat and I need to think.

My book is sitting on the passenger seat of my car as I pull in to the Phoenix. Unfortunately, it's closed. My book slides across the seat as I pull back onto the road in search of another restaurant. I glance at the book briefly and wonder if I should attempt to keep it from falling off the edge of the seat where it's now teetering…or just let it…

Too late…it's on the floor.

I pull into the parking lot of the first decent restaurant I find. It could be decent. I'm not sure. At this point, I'm not paying much attention.

I'm seated at the bar because I know I'll get my drink before the food I ordered. I'm not much of a drinker, but…

The drink is set down, but I barely notice as my thoughts are focused on my book. The first section of the book is probably the only place, aside from my own memories, where my family still exists. I absently reach for my drink and take a long sip as I start to read…]

[Turning my key in the lock to my room at the Inn feels like the most familiar and comforting thing I've done in...how long? I shake my head and push the door open. Even the scent of the room itself is comforting. More and more things assure me that this is where I belong. I toss my keys, sunglasses, and purse on the table near the bed then slip off my heels.

After a long, quiet soak in the tub, I wrap a towel around myself. I'm using another to dry my hair as I walk back into the bedroom. As edges of the towel pass intermittently by my face, I manage to spot the paper on the dresser as I walk by. I can't help the smile that crosses my face when his name is the first thing I see.

Dropping the towel from my hair, it rests in my hand as I pick up the note to read.

He's back!

Getting dressed. Styling hair. Applying make-up. What usually takes me an hour is now done in less than twenty minutes. A new record for me.

Another two minutes later, I'm standing at Lachlan's door, eagerly knocking, impatiently waiting to see him, touch him.]

[Relieved and happy to see him again, she returns his smile]

Dinner would be great. We can go out if you like. However, I think I would prefer to have you all to myself. You just came back and I'm not yet ready to share you with anyone else...[she caresses his freshly shaven face as she kisses his cheek and inhales the scent of him she's been missing since he left] All I need is you and a little food to keep up my strength for the long night ahead…

[She kissed his cheek and smiled.] I think we can handle that…and the food too. I found a great place that delivers. They even have a very good dessert called 'drunken bananas'.

[Grace went to the phone and dialed. She'd called the restaurant enough lately there was no need to look up the number. She ordered crab cakes, sirloin steak, soup, salad, vegetables, baked potatoes and dessert. After giving the restaurant Lach's room number, she hung up then turned and smoothed her hands over his chest.]

Dinner will be here in about an hour. [His hands slid around her waist as he kissed down her throat.] Hmm, why don't you keep doing that while you tell me how your trip was?