Part 303 (1/2)

”And you're a regular Amazon. Here I was loping across the lot, trying

to play white knight. You stole my thunder.”

She laughed and kissed his cheek. ”You'd have flattened him.”

”I don't know. He's a lot bigger than I am. Better all around that you

punched him yourself I'd hate to have gone on the telly with a black

eye.”

”You'd have looked das.h.i.+ng, and rakish.” She slipped an arm around his

waist. ”Let's not say anything about this to Dad.”

”Bri's very handy with his fists. I'd fancy seeing Blackpool with a

s.h.i.+ner.”

”I'd fancy it myself,” she murmured. ”At least wait until after the

awards.”

”I never could resist a pretty face.”

”No, you couldn't. Have you convinced Katherine to marry you yet?”

”She's weakening.” They could hear one of the rehearsing acts playing

before they entered the theater. Rough, unapologetic rock blasted

through the walls. ”She stayed in London. Said she had too many

patients to take the time for this. But she also stayed behind to see

if I could deal with this business on my own.”

He stopped near the rear of the theater, just to listen.

”And can you?”

”It's funny, all those years I took drugs because I wanted to feel good.

There were some things I wanted to forget.” He thought of Sylvie, and

sighed. ”But mostly because I wanted to feel good. They never made me

feel good, but I kept right on taking them. In the past couple of

years, I've started to realize what life can be like when you face it