Sam had only just passed the exit at the airport parking lot when she heard Janet sob. "Oh baby, it's okay," she said softly to her lover, touching her hand. "She's gonna be fine."

"I know it," Janet's reply was muffled. "And I'm being stupid. I'm just gonna miss her so much; the house'll be empty without her."

Sam smiled. "I know, Jan, she's never been away for more that a couple of weeks. But she's going to have a ball, we had to let her go."

Janet smiled. "We did, baby, we did. And she's promised to stay in contact, hasn't she?"

Sam squeezed her fingers.

SGSGSGSGSGSG

When Cassandra had first told Sam and Janet of her plans to spend a year traveling the world after graduating from college before she started med school, Sam's heart had skipped a beat. She knew that they would both miss her horribly, but she also knew that the experiences that Cassie would get from her trip would set her up for life. It was something she had done at seventeen, and she knew how much Cassie would get out of it.

Janet had been so brave when Cassie dropped her bombshell, and she had been so supportive and enthusiastic about her travels that Sam was filled with pride. Both 'her girls' were so beautiful, and so brilliant. She knew was so lucky to have such a wonderful family.

Dropping Cassie at the airport had been hard on all of them. Their daughter was now 21, and so was more than old enough to handle her year ahead, but still, they weren't going to see her for at least six months. They had tentatively agreed to meet for a two-week holiday in Asia half way through Cassie's trip, but nothing had been set in stone.

But Cassie's excitement was infectious, so Sam and Janet did their best to fake enthusiasm. They managed to hold it together as they watched her pass through the barrier. But as they left the airport parking lot, Janet's self-control crumbled. Sam herself was close to tears, but she was driving, and she wanted to support Janet.

Once they got back home, Sam put her arms round her lover, and held her tight. "She's a great kid, isn't she?" she said quietly, and she could feel Janet nod in reply. "C'mon, let's get your jacket off," and she helped slide the denim jacket from Janet's shoulders. "What's this?" she felt a lump in the pocket.

Janet looked embarrassed. "It's cash; I tried to give it to Cassie, but she refused. She swore to me that she would contact us if she got in trouble, but she said she wanted to do the whole trip for herself. I'm so proud of her. And I know," she held her hands up, "I know I shouldn't have tried to give her the money, I know you wouldn't have done anything so stupid."

"Wanna bet?" Sam grinned, as she removed a large wad from her jeans pocket. "She wouldn't take mine either, Jan!" and both women laughed, slightly shamefaced.

At that moment, Sam's cellphone beeped. "It's Cass!" she said delightedly as she read it, and passed the 'phone over to Janet, who saw the message:

"Well I'm through to the gate, 'plane leaves in 20 minutes. Look in the fruit bowl. I love you both, and I'm going to miss you. Cass. xxx"

"Fruit bowl?" Janet wondered. "What does she mean?"

"One way to find out, honey," Sam said, and went over to it. Underneath the oranges, she found an envelope with 'Mom & Sam' written on the front in Cassie's messy handwriting.

"Well open it up," Janet said. "I wanna know what's in there." So Sam did.

Cassandra had written:

"Mom, Sam, I think I can guess how you are both feeling right now. And I'll bet you didn't show any of it at the airport, and for that, I'm grateful.

You two have been such wonderful moms to me. I hit gold when I was found by Sam on Hanka. Somehow you two turned the most terrible experience in my life into something wonderful. I have been truly happy with you, in a home that was full to bursting with love, laughter and fun. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you have done for me.

Don't think that this is the end though. I'll be back in a year, and the time will fly by. And I'll see you in Malaysia as planned. By that time, I'll be begging for a bit of luxury, so I'll generously allow you to spoil me and pay for *everything*, as you always have. I'm looking forward to that hotel already!

But now I want you two to have some fun, some time to yourselves. You're just so great together, you really are the perfect couple. If one day I find someone who makes me half as happy as you two make each other, I'll count myself very lucky.

I'm wandering from the point now. I've been talking to Uncle Jack, and he's cleared it with Landry for you two to have the rest of the week off. So I've booked you into a cabin in the mountains for four nights. I know you both love it there, and I think it'll do you the world of good to take some time out for yourselves, and for each other.

I've told Celine at the cabins that you'll pick up the key from her at 1500hrs"

. . . at this point, Janet stopped reading and looked at her watch.

Cassie's letter continued:

"and Mom, you don't have to look at your watch. Yes, I know you better than you know yourself! Everything's ready for you, if you look under the tarpaulin in the garage, you'll find a bag packed, and a box of groceries. There's plenty of food for at least two days, and after that you can go to the store in the village.

Enjoy it both of you, relax, sleep in, swim in the river, do whatever you want to. Just be together. And know that I'll be thinking of you on my travels, and loving you more as each day passes.

All my love,

Cassandra

p.s. By the way, the cabin's not paid for. Well, what did you expect, I'm an impoverished student? But I'll bet you both tried to give me money at the airport, so you can use that. I love you."

Janet's hands were shaking by the time she got to the end of the letter. She looked up at Sam, and saw that she was equally emotional. "Well I guess we'd better go, huh, honey?"

"I guess so," Sam's voice was thick with unshed tears. "She's one in a million, that kid, isn't she?"

"Oh God yes," Janet breathed.

So they set off on their journey. The cabin was only two hours away, and by the time they reached it, they were relaxed and happy. Janet started unpacking the groceries in the kitchen, while Sam carried out all the practical tasks, such as making sure the water was turned on, and bringing in logs for the fire that they would light that evening.

As Janet opened the refrigerator to put the milk inside, she saw a bottle of champagne with a red ribbon tied round it, next to some fresh strawberries. She couldn't imagine how Cassie had organized it, but there was a note in her handwriting attached to the bottle,

"Eat, drink, be merry!"

she had written.

"Sam!" Janet called. "You'll never believe what I've found!" and she showed it to her.

Sam grinned. "Well, baby, in that case, I think we should do just what we're told! And I know just the place to do it," and at that, she snagged the champagne and strawberries, found two glasses and led Janet by the hand to the bedroom.

It was dusk by the time they emerged from their idyll, wrapped only in their robes. Hand in hand, they strolled to the waterside by the fast-flowing river. Sam sat down first, leaning against a convenient rock, and pulled Janet down to join her; Janet sat in front of her lover, between her legs, leaning back into her chest. Sam wrapped her arms protectively round Janet and hugged her tight. "I wish we could stay here forever, sweetie," she said, wistfully, "this is just perfect."

"I know, Sam," Janet agreed. "Maybe one day, when you don't need to go out and save the world every week, when all the enemies are vanquished. We'll retire up here, refuse any visitors except Cassie and the guys. And we'll spend all day, every day, in bed."

Sam laughed. "It's a date," she promised. And she slid one hand inside Janet's robe. "Who needs to be in bed though?" she asked, seductively.

"Al fresco, huh?" replied Janet, twisting in her arms and reaching up for a kiss. " Well why not?"