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Charles and Lanni are up to about now,” Sawyer said with a grin.
    â€œThey’re probably lying on a sandy beach soaking up the sunshine.”
    Sawyer sat next to her on the sofa. “Remember our honeymoon?”
    Abbey smiled. They hadn’t seen too much of Hawaii.
    â€œIf you recall, we didn’t spend a lot of time on any of those beaches. As far as I was concerned, all we needed was a bed and a little privacy.”
    â€œSawyer!”
    â€œI’m crazy about you, Abbey.”
    â€œGood thing, because I’m crazy about you, too.” She turned, sliding her arms around his waist. The happiness she’d found with him continued to astound her. When she’d least expected it, Sawyer had given her back her heart, given her a second chance at love.
    â€œDon’t worry about cooking tonight,” he said. “I thought I’d treat us all to dinner.”
    â€œOn a Monday night?”
    â€œSure.” He grinned. “Ben’s started a frequent-eater plan, and—”
    â€œA what? ”
    â€œYou know, like the airlines’ frequent-flyer programs.”
    â€œOh. Of course.”
    â€œHe’s trying to drum up a little business, and I figured we should support his creativity.”
    Abbey gave Sawyer a quick kiss. “And have some of Ben’s apple pie into the bargain.”
    â€œThen, later,” Sawyer said, cozying up to her, “I thought you and I could relive some of those wonderful moments from our own honeymoon.”
    Abbey suspected he wasn’t talking about lazing around on a beach, either.
    May 1996
    Karen had never felt worse, emotionally or physically. Bad enough to make a doctor’s appointment.
    Spring was one of her favorite times of year. The changes in the California weather weren’t as dramatic as those in Alaska, but the heavy Oakland air seemed to hold less smog.
    Even though she’d been living in California for a while now, she wondered if she’d ever grow accustomed to seeing nothing but a brownish haze on the horizon.
    She’d hoped to adjust more quickly to life here, but so far she hadn’t. True, there were compensations—a staggering variety of stores and restaurants, lots of TV channels, consistently moderate weather. But daylight in the winter months had taken some getting used to. Freeways continued to unnerve her. Traffic intimidated her. And so many people! The contrast between California and Alaska was never more striking than on the freeways.
    Karen had made friends. All female. It might’ve helped if she’d been able to get involved in another relationship. But she wasn’t ready, and she didn’t know how long it would be before she was.
    Still, no matter how many months or years it took, she was determined to forget Matt.
    First, though, she had to get over this strange malady of hers. A friend in her office had recommended Dr. Perry, and if the patients filling his waiting room were any indication, he must be good.
    She flipped through a women’s magazine as she waited for the nurse to call her name. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was already twenty minutes past her appointment time. Actually Karen didn’t mind the wait because she didn’t know what she’d say once she saw him. She didn’t have any real symptoms. She just felt…bad. She slept more than she should. Her appetite was nonexistent. And she cried at the drop of a hat. The other night she’d found herself weeping over a television advertisement for a camera. A camera, for heaven’s sake!
    Her real fear was that Dr. Perry would say she had all the symptoms of someone who was chronically depressed and tell her she should make an appointment with a mental-health professional. She was prepared to do that if he suggested it.
    When her name was finally called, she followed the nurse to the cubicle and sat on a molded plastic chair. Considering what this appointment cost,