It was Thursday evening, and Rachel and Elizabeth were having dinner. "I'm glad your mom is doing well," Elizabeth was saying.

"Yeah, she's better lately," Rachel said. "Sometimes, anyway. I think she likes this new job. She said the hours are better."

"Well, that makes a big difference," Elizabeth said. The front door opened. "Robert?"

"Hi," he said, coming in. He looked at Rachel and she smiled at him slightly. He smiled back uncertainly. He went over to Elizabeth and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I didn't think you'd be home so soon!"

"Well, I came back for awhile," he said. "I have to go back in a couple of hours."

"Join us," Elizabeth said, getting up and putting another plate on the table. "This spaghetti will just go to waste, anyway."

"Thanks," he said, sitting down and eating. "So, what are you girls talking about?"

"Oh, Rachel was just filling me in on what Jen is doing these days." Elizabeth said. She looked at him and noticed he was rubbing his left arm and grimacing. "What's the matter, it's flaring up again?"

"Yeah," he said. "Some days, it just has a mind of its own."

"What's wrong with your arm?" Rachel said.

"I hurt it last year," Robert said. "In an accident."

"What kind of accident?"

"Uh, I was skiing," he said. "Broke my arm. It's better now." He looked at Elizabeth and she raised her eyebrows. He shook his head very slightly.

"Oh yeah? I ski." Rachel said. "Where do you go?"

"What?"

"Where do you go skiing?" Rachel said. "Big Powderhorn in Michigan? The Rockies?"

"Yeah, the Rockies mostly." Robert said. "Sugarbrush."

"You mean, Sugarbush?" Rachel said, with a puzzled look on her face. "That's in Vermont. You go all the way to Vermont?"

"Uh, sometimes." Robert said. "I do go to the Rockies. I know some people who have a house in Aspen. But I also have some old friends in the East Coast, so I've been to Sugarbush a few times. My friends and I call it 'Sugarbrush.' Because of all our brushes with death," he said and laughed uneasily. Rachel stared at him. "Anyway, I guess my skiing days are over for awhile."

"I'm a great skiier," Rachel said.

Robert smiled. "You would be, wouldn't you." He gave Elizabeth a sideways glance and she raised her eyebrows again.

"So Rachel, do you think that-" Elizabeth started.

"I love to ski," Rachel interrupted, to Robert. "Have you ever been to Perfect North Slopes?"

"Uh, no," Robert said. "I haven't."

"My dad and I used to go," Rachel said. "He was a really good skiier. Are you any good?"

"I'm starting to think I'm not," he said.

"Yeah, you don't really look like a skier," Rachel said. "But I guess you can never tell." She gave him an odd look. The phone rang.

"Oh, that'll be Stacy," Rachel said. She looked at Elizabeth. "Can I grab it?"

"Sure," Elizabeth said.

Rachel picked up the phone. "Hello? Hey Stace, just a minute." She looked at Elizabeth. "I'm going to take it in the guest room, okay?" Elizabeth nodded. Rachel went into the other room, and when Elizabeth saw that Rachel had picked up, she hung up the phone in the kitchen.

"Saved by the bell," Robert said.

"Why on earth did you go into that whole story?" Elizabeth said.

"I don't know," he said, and sighed. "It just seemed like a good idea at the time. I know plenty of doctors who go to the Rockies, spend weekends in Vail, all that bullshit. Why the hell I said that thing about Sugarbrush, I don't know."

"Freudian slip," Elizabeth said. "You should have just told her what really happened with your arm. She doesn't care."

"Yeah, you're right," Robert said ironically. "She sure cares about skiing though, that's for sure."

Elizabeth laughed. "Oh well," she said. "Have you ever been skiing?"

"Nope," he said.

"Yes, well, that seemed apparent."

"Great, now she thinks I'm a liar as well as a jerk." Robert said.

"Well, you did lie," Elizabeth said.

"Yeah, I know," Robert said. "Thanks for reminding me, though."

She smiled. "Don't worry about it."