“Michael,” she sobbed. “I needed you so much.”

“I’m here,” he said. “I love you.”

“Oh, Michael, are you here to stay?” she asked through her sobs.

He set her down. “No, honey. Just a couple of weeks. I still have a commitment in England. But I’ll be back. This long separation is much too long to be apart.”

She made a sound, a joyful sound, and covered his mouth in a searing kiss, their lips wet from her tears. He chuckled against her lips, held her tighter and returned the kiss. He devoured her like a starving man. When at long last they parted, he whispered, “I can’t remember when I last saw you cry.”

“I thought you were leaving me!” she said with a hiccup of emotion.

“I told you I was in forever, not just until I didn’t get my way.”

“Oh, God,” she said, tears flowing again. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“Now, why would I do that?” he said with a little laugh.

“I wrote you a letter!”

“I know. I got it three days ago. I had to close up my office and the house and make travel arrangements and—” He shook his head disapprovingly. “Really, Charley? A letter? When did we stop talking?”

“I think it was about April,” she said.

He wiped her cheeks. “We’ve talked a hundred times since then.”

“But we argued so much! I didn’t want to argue anymore.”

“But a letter? You could have told me your feelings.”

“I was doing that so badly.”

“Me, too. So I decided to come to you instead of calling or writing you a letter. We’re not going to do that anymore. We’ve always known where we stood with each other. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. I’m not giving you up that easily.”

She put her head on his shoulder and cried again. He held her close and kissed her tears away. “Is there somewhere we can be alone?” he asked her.

“The boathouse,” she said in a breath.

“I mean, really alone,” he clarified.

“There’s a lock on the door.”

He gently wiped away her tears. “I need some reassurance.”

She laughed through her tears. “Me falling apart isn’t reassurance enough?”

“It’s a good start,” he said. “Your sister and cousin? Will they miss us?”

“Meg is napping. Krista was on her computer. I have so much to tell you.”

“Maybe we can talk a little later. Right now I think my body needs your body.”

She took him by the hand and led him up the stairs to the little room above the boathouse. What a stroke of brilliance it was, finishing this space. Before the door was closed she decided they would stay here together while Michael was visiting. Away from the others, listening to the water.

The beauty of a long, committed and loving relationship is the satisfaction of intimacy between two people, each wanting to please the other. They had many inventive ways of showing each other that pleasure, but none of those would work today. They’d been apart too long, aching for each other too long. Charley laughed as Michael tried to get her out of her clothes without tearing them off her.

Once they were down to bare skin, their hands all over each other, Charley fell back on the bed. Foreplay was completely out of the question and unnecessary; their mutual hunger drove them full speed ahead. “This isn’t going to last nearly long enough,” Michael said. “Charley, it was so hard without you.”

“Let’s not do that again. Whose idea was that? Don’t answer. Just kiss me.”

He spread her thighs and nestled inside her. That stopped him. He didn’t move for a moment, luxuriating in the sensation. “Home,” he said softly. He brushed back her hair and kissed her softly. “This is where I belong.”

“Yes, it is,” she agreed. Her hands on his shoulders, she caressed his beautiful arms and back and chest. And he’d barely begun to move before she exploded into pleasure so lovely her eyes filled with tears yet again.

He kissed her eyelids. “No more crying,” he said. “Just loving. We can steal an hour of just loving.”

“This might kick off a marathon,” she said. “You’ve always been so good at that.”

“You’re good, that’s why,” he said. “Damn, I missed you.”

He started to pull away but she held him. “Not yet,” she said. “Stay a little while longer.”

“I’m heavy,” he said.

“Nah, you’re just right. Wow, that was such a good idea.” She smiled into his eyes. “Makeup sex is my specialty.”

“I think you’ve got it down,” he said. “Want to make up one more time before we go to the house?”

* * *

Krista thought she heard Meg in the bedroom. She leaned her ear against the door to listen and there was a soft moan coming from inside. She tapped on the door and opened it. Meg was rolling her head back and forth, gritting her teeth. She glistened with sweat.

Krista sat on the side of the bed. “You’re in pain,” she said.

“A little bit,” she said. “I have some pain medication in my top drawer. Do you mind?”

“I’ll get it. Just one?”

“I think I’ll throw caution to the wind and have two.”

“Is that all right?” Krista asked. Meg just laughed, though there was little humor in it.

She fetched the pills and a glass of water. She had to help Meg to sit up to take the pills. She fixed a pillow behind her back. Meg leaned back and closed her eyes, breathing steadily.

“How long has this been going on?” Krista asked.

“Oh, it comes and goes.”

“How long, then?”

“A couple of weeks. Maybe a month.”

“How in the world did you manage to hide it?”

“Oxy. Powerful stuff.”

“And you’re getting weaker,” Krista said.

“My balance is off, that’s all,” she said. “I heard a car...”

“Michael is here,” she said. “They hugged and kissed and disappeared into the boathouse. I think they’ll leave us alone for a while.”

“Tell me a story? Tell me what happened that summer. I know you know.”

“In just a minute. Will you excuse me just a minute and I’ll come right back? May I use your phone?”

“Please don’t do anything stupid,” Meg begged. “Please don’t sound the alarm! I’m okay.”

“I’m not going to sound any alarm,” Krista said. “I’m going to get you more pain medication.”

“Oh,” she said, relaxing. “I guess that wouldn’t hurt.”

Krista took the phone and left the room. Although she knew it was prying, she went through Megan’s texts for that day—all from John.

How are you feeling?

I’m fine—stop worrying.

Your appetite?

Excellent. Leave me alone and get back to work. What are you doing today?

ER today, so it will move fast. ILY.

ILY, too. To the moon and back.

Krista fought tears. She sniffed them back bravely. She dialed John. Of course she knew he would answer immediately as the call was coming from Meg’s phone. “Hi, babe,” he said.

“It’s Krista,” she said. “I just gave Meg two pain pills. She was hurting. I think she takes them more than she admits. She’s weak and unsteady and she lied about her appetite—it’s not great. She is eating, though. A little.”

“I’ll come,” he said.

“John, pack for a long visit. And bring some good drugs.”

She heard him sigh into the phone. “Okay.”

Then she took the phone back to Meg. Krista could tell the pills were already kicking in. Meg gave a wan smile. “I heard you,” she said.

“No, you didn’t,” Krista said. “Why didn’t you tell us it was getting bad? You can trust us.”

“I didn’t want the focus to be on me, on my cancer. I wanted you all to focus on getting back on track. Together. Making a family.”

“You’re family, sweetheart. And you’re sick.”

“I’m not leaving,” Meg said. “Damn it, I wanted to see fall. The colors around the lake are so beautiful.”

“Who says you won’t?” Krista asked.

“It’s better if this doesn’t drag out. I have it on good authority that the other side is excellent. I’m not afraid. I have only one fear, really. I hope it’s a silly fear. I hope they have it all worked out. I’m just afraid I’ll miss the people I love, but I bet they have that all worked out.”

“It’ll be okay,” Krista promised. “Anyone who can come up with heaven can figure out the missing people glitch.”

Meg closed her eyes softly. “I thought heaven was right here,” she said. “Even the adventure with Hope.” She opened her eyes. “I guess you should let everyone know what’s happening.”

“Maybe later,” Krista said. “You said you wanted me to tell you the story of that summer. You aren’t going to believe what happened...”

* * *

John slid onto the bed beside Meg, threading his arm under her head. She roused slowly. “Hmm, hello, darling man.”

“Sleeping off the pain pills?” he asked softly, cradling her in his arms.

“They’re very good,” she said sleepily.

“How’s the pain right now?” he asked.

“Muted. I’ll get up for dinner.”

He brushed her fuzzy cap of hair back. “Did you think you were fooling me?”

“Nah. You’ve looked into the eyes of too many patients. I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking about something.”

“What’s that?”