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of the bruise over her left eye. 
    While he lay there, Vin recalled a time six months earlier when such happiness had eluded her.  H e almost died and C a eli had been cruelly tortured in a ma dman's futile attempt to force Vin to use his ability to manipulate the wind to do his bidding.  But, with the help of a few friends, they overc a me the threat and found a way back to each other. 
    Vin re membered , with sorrow and a touch of veiled anger, the events that had changed their lives.  He vividly recalled the details of the car wreck that sent him , temporarily , to the other side of the barrier between life and death ; memories of the subsequent quest to prevent Deacon Antonius , C a eli's grandfather, from destroying that barrier were just as sharp .  The events were permanently embedded in Vin's mind.  He was certain that Antonius would never trouble them or anyone else ever again and assumed the deacon's students scattered to remote locations after the battle .  Unfortunately, Vin's embittered and misguided half-sister, Dalla, was killed before he ever had the opportunity to know her.  And his own father, who allowed Vin to be put up for adoption at birth, died the very night the ordeal beg a n.  Vin did not feel any sense of loss, nor did he grieve for the stranger.  Having grown up in a succession of foster homes and repeated stints at St. Anthony's orphanage, Vin never considered his biological father to be a member of his family.  He was certainly never a part of Vin's life.
    Discovering the knowledge of his special her itage had co me at a terrible price.  It hurt C a eli deeply and nearly cost Vin his life as well .  Knowing , now , that the blood flowing through his veins carried an innate attenuation to the forces of the wind, and how that connection helped maintain the barrier, was a responsibility Vin carried willingly.  It was the choice he made when he decided to save C a eli instead of e xacting vengeance on Antonius.
    Looking toward the closed door of the bathroom, hearing C a eli happily bustling about, Vin had absolutely no regrets about his decision.  His life was perfect.
    A few minutes later, C a eli returned, wearing his navy blue robe , which was much too big for her.  It hung down six inches over her feet and nearly tripped her as she walked toward the bed.  C a eli was holding the robe tightly closed around her trim figure.  Vin sat up, on the o pposite side of the bed this time, as she moved to stand a few steps in front of him.
    " You look like you got swallowed by a fabric store in that.  What are you up to now ? "   He shook his head and laughed at her.
    " I wanted to show you my new outfit . I finally worked up the nerve to buy something interesting.   It's a swimsuit that can also be worn as a skirt and top , so that I can also wear it out to eat or to go shopping without having to go back to the hotel and change clothes .  Since you aren't going along , I wanted to get your opinion before I packed it away.  I'm a little bit nervous.  So be honest, but be nice. "
    C a eli opened the robe and let it fall to the floor, trying to give her best imitation of a model-like pose.  She watched for Vin's reaction as he looked up from where he instinctively reached down to catch the robe as it fell.  Then C a eli blushed deeply as she saw the intensity of the effect it had on him.  It took several moments before he could pick his jaw up off the floor, in addition to the robe.  The first thought Vin could voice didn't exactly sound like the compliment he intended.
    " Whoa!  Honey , I do n't think you should wear an outfit like that out in public. "  
    C a eli was wearing a sapphire and baby blue, two - piece swimsuit .  The upper portion had crossed straps that joined together in the center and became the braided section of a wider strap that wound across her left shoulder.  The bottom piece was a typical bikini bottom with a teasingly thin skirt overlay that swirled