"Here is your tea," Holly said to Phillip as she handed him a large and fuming cup. She wrapped her robe more tightly about her and lied next to him on the rug, the only piece of furniture that Reva had left behind. They had gotten to the house half-an-hour before and had both stripped out of their wet clothes. Phillip had then built a fire which was now shedding a warm light on the living room. Outside, rain was still coming down hard.

Phillip warmed his hands on the cup before putting it down next to him and pulling Holly under the thick blanket. She snuggled against him and ran her hand on his naked chest.

"I hope we don't catch the flu from staying out there in the rain," she said, resting her head against his shoulder, smiling.

"I wouldn't care if I got pneumonia; it was more than worth it."

They both stared at the fire for a while, visions of their encounter floating in their minds. After a few minutes, Phillip started stroking her back. "You can't deny that we're good together, Holly."

"I'm not."

"Then, for the last time, why won't you be with me? Make me understand! It's like there are two Holly: the one who gave herself to me on the top of my car, of all places, and then you, with all these serious notions about what's wrong and what's right!"

Holly sighed and pulled away to be able to look him in the eyes.

"I guess you're right, there are two Holly, but one of them I usually keep bottled up. When you accused me before of being afraid to live, you weren't far from the truth."

She put her head back on his chest and closed her eyes, while Phillip brushed his lips against her forehead.

"I used to be just like Blake when I was her age. I took what I wanted and I never cared about the consequences. I followed Roger to New York and seduced him when I was barely out of my teens, and then I tricked Ed into marrying me by getting him drunk in Vegas. I still can't believe I ever did that!"

Phillip could not help but laughing as he pictured the scene. "I was fearless," she added. "That is, until..." her voice trailed off.

"Until you married Roger?" Phillip asked.

"You see, I loved him with an all-consuming love. And then things went horribly wrong. It was like being burned in a fire; I thought I wouldn't make it out alive."

"But you did."

"Yes I did, but I'm badly scarred, Phillip. I am not sure I want to risk getting hurt like that again."

She heard him cursed under his breath as he sat back up, causing the blanket to slide off his shoulders. He then lifted her up and took her by the shoulders, gazing straight into her eyes. "Listen to me. I would never do the things that Roger did to you. Never!"

Holly dropped her eyes down, unable to meet his stare. Talking about the feelings and fears she had buried so deep was excruciating to her. Phillip lifted her chin with his right index and added: "Don't you know that I'm afraid too? I've already lost someone that was very dear to me, don't forget that. But is it worth living if you never open your heart again?"

"But what if I get hurt? What if, in a couple of years, you meet someone else, someone younger? Or what if…" Phillip silenced her with a kiss.

"There are a lot of things that could happen in the future, but this is here and now, and I want YOU. I can't promise you that I'll never hurt you, because this is not how life works, but the same goes for you. You have to be willing to take risks! Come on! What do you say?"

He leaned in and kissed her again, this time more urgently. He undid her robe and made it slip off her back, then covered her body with his. His lips trailed down her neck on to her breasts, his tongue teasing her skin, while his hands wandered down her back, pressing her against him and leaving her no doubt as to the intensity of his desire. "What do you say?" he asked for a second time, his hand tracing the curve of her hip before disappearing between her legs.

Holly inhaled sharply before gasping: "Yes!"

"I didn't hear you," Phillip replied teasingly in between kisses, his fingers gently finding their way into her, as if to lay a claim on her body.

She grabbed his shoulders and whispered in his ears: "Yes, I want you!" She was about to wrap her legs around his waist when there was a knock at the door.

They both sat up abruptly, looking at each other and trying not to make a sound.

"Mom! I know you're in there! I need to talk to you!"

Holly grabbed her head with both hands, trying to remain calm. She put her robe back on and frantically mouthed to Phillip to grab his clothes and to go hide in one of the bedrooms, while she took his cup and shoved it in the kitchen sink. Meanwhile, Blake kept pounding on the door, more and more loudly.

Holly said a silent prayer, took a deep breath and went to the door. "Really Blake? Couldn't this wait until morning?"

She opened the door to a very wet Blake, who had obviously been crying. A wave of pity ran into Holly's heart.

"No, I had to talk to you now. I can't let you think that I'm some sort of heartless bitch."

Holly ran a hand through her hair, already exhausted by the upcoming conversation. "I don't think that you're a bitch, honey."

"Yes, you do! I saw the look on your face when you saw Alan-Michael and me!"

She looked around for a place to sit down and her eyes rested on the blanket lying on the floor. Then she looked up at her mother, taking in her dishevelled hair and rosy cheeks. "Am I interrupting something?"

Just deny it and it will all be fine, Holly thought. "Don't be silly. I just fell asleep in front of the fire, that's all."

"Oh yeah? Some dream you must have had!" Blake replied teasingly, forgetting about a second about why she was there.

"Will you stop it?" Holly replied abruptly, trying to hide her nervousness.

Blake became earnest again and sat down on the floor, soon joined by her mother. "How long have you been seeing Alan-Michael?"

"We've been seeing a lot of each other since the hospital, you know that, but things became more serious about a week ago."

"So Phillip is out of the picture?"

"No, he's not. That's what I came here to tell you!"

Holly's heart tightened in her chest. The evening was turning into a nightmare. She forced herself to speak. "You still love him?"

"Of course, I do! Feelings like that just don't go away by snapping your fingers!"

"Or by sleeping with the guy's brother," Holly added, before she could hold in the sarcasm.

Blake got up and shook her head. "Have you ever heard of the term "rebound", Mom? People do that; even you. Does Ed Bauer ring a bell?"

"Christina," Holly said warningly, getting up herself.

"Fine, forget I said that. I just wished you wouldn't judge me. I'm just trying not to be so damn unhappy!"

Holly grabbed Blake's hand and squeezed it. "I know, sweetheart, but what about Alan-Michael's feelings?"

"I'm not playing with him, Mother, I swear. He knows where we stand and he says that he's fine with that."

"Is there any chance that it might turn into something more serious?"

"Maybe. I really like spending time with him, but…"

"But what?"

Blake walked back to the door before answering. "Do you think that Phillip is dating that Catherine Dawson?"

"I don't think so, honey."

"How can you be sure?"

"Call it a hunch."

This is hell, Holly reflected while Blake fumbled in her purse for her car keys. This is where I finally pay for all the lousy things that I ever did.

"I couldn't stand to see him with someone else, Mom." Blake opened the door and turned back to her mother one last time: "Are we okay?"

Holly shook her head and pulled her robe around her, shivering in the cold night air. "I guess we are."

Blake's car had just pulled out of the driveway when Phillip came out of the room, his damp clothes still in his hands. Holly could immediately see from the look on his face that he had heard every word of the conversation.

"Your daughter has lousy timing, did you know that? Good thing that I parked the car in the garage," he said dumping his clothes on the floor. He grabbed his head in frustration before adding: "God! What a mess!"

"She still loves you," was all that Holly could think of replying. The reality of what she had just heard was still sinking in.

"Please, tell me that it doesn't change what you told me before she came in here?" Phillip asked, wishing he could wring Blake's pretty little neck.

"I don't know," Holly answered, trying not to well up.

Phillip shook his head and put his clothes back on gravely, and then headed for the door. "You know what? I'm done with this. Call me if you ever figure it out."