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Show As we drove down from the mountains, I realized that I was actually enjoying Danny and Dierdre and Brian. I couldn't identify the change in our relationship, but I no longer f e l t so excluded. "Turn on some music, "Brain suggested. "No," I said quickly. "Let's just talk." The radio blared. "Will you turn that off or shall I?" I insisted. Danny switched i t off and grinned. "How about a hamburger?" he said in that old way - excited and conspiratorial, the way he had invited me for doughnuts or lemon ice cream as a kid. "I'd love a hamburger. I'm ravenous." My heart was so light i t might not have been there. I was reminded of Melissa's wedding. So much happiness in l i f e seemed impossible, almost dangerous ~ like hang-gliding or parachuting. Eventually the ground must rush up to catch you. Yet I f e l t nothing in the world could harm me, that all the old hurts between the four of us had been resolved. I had been reprieved from the volcano's edge. There would be salvation, redemption, forgiveness - no matter what the years ahead would reveal. Brain's fingers played in my h a i r . Once he turned my face to his and kissed me. "I love you," he whispered. His eyes were translucent as two warm springs. My skin tingled with the knowledge that romance had returned and my waiting had been g r a t i f i e d . My family would not be dismembered. My children would have a father, and I would have a husband - someone to love and p r o t e c t me mA^ mmtyr flaaxtnheexr ' s absence, A hitch in my heart. Perhaps we had*' A over a rift |