Unlike in previous years, Pricilla was quick to offer her help to Helen. After a whispered conversation with Jessica, Robert asked if everyone wanted to smoke a joint. Henry, Pricilla, and Marc could not stop themselves from looking to Helen. To save the moment Marc found his old sense of humour and began to ride Robert about becoming a pothead. The scent of roast beef wound its way though the cottage.
Meat digests best with well-aged scotch, or so they agreed.
It was someone s turn to do dishes, but Helen dipped her hands into the water first. Henry found himself sitting next to Jessica on the smaller of the two couches. Marc had just turned a log and now the flames were attacking zestfully. After Henry s joke, Jessica s laughter trickled away into the bowl of her palm. He considered waking her from the spell by nudging her foot with his own.