Together Forever At Last

Chapter Two-New Beginnings.

Six Months Later

Joey was out having a drink with Snake. Snake was the only person he could confide in right now. He was so worried about his wife.

'Caitlin has been spending days and days on the sofa, in my old pyjama's and she looks so pale all the time. There isn't any colour in her face at all. It's been going on for weeks now. What if she is seriously ill? What if I lose her to illness too?'

'Joey, your being irrational, thinking the worst. And even if it is something serious, remember you can survive serious illness, look at me.'

'You were lucky Snake, Julia was gone in months. I don't think I could cope with losing Caitlin now.'

'Has she not seen a doctor?'

'Not yet. You know Caitlin, she says she will be fine and she has just been working too much. I hold her so close to me at night, because I am so damn scared of losing her.'

'Joey, I am sure it will be okay, but you got to get her to a doctor. Tell her how scared you are, after all she is probably scared too.'

When Joey did arrive home, Caitlin was in their bedroom sat by their bathroom door, looking paler than ever.

'You been throwing up again?'

'Most of the afternoon.'

He could tell she didn't have the energy to get up , so he just sat down next to her and held her hand.

'Oh Caitlin, you have got to get yourself to a doctor. We need to find out what is wrong with you so you can get better. I know your scared, I am too.'

'I'm terrified and I'm going to throw up again.'

After she came out of the bathroom she collapsed back in to his lap on the floor.

'I don't get this, I haven't eaten anything for hours. I'm not handling this very well am I . I've never really been ill you see, only like colds and flu and stuff. And I had all the jabs when I went to far out places.'

'Promise me you will go to the doctor tomorrow. I'll come with you.'

Caitlin just about had the energy to nod her head.

'What if they send me for loads of tests?'

'I'll come with you.'

Joey wanted to tell her it was going to be okay, but how could he reassure her when he was so scared himself?

'Think your okay to get to bed?'

'Actually, I'm feeling a bit better now, but I am just so tired. I just want to sleep.'

He lifted her up and laid her down on the bed and she climbed under the covers.

'I'm not getting changed in case I throw up again.'

'And I'm not going to work tomorrow, I'm coming to the doctors with you and then I'm going to bring you home and take care of you.'

Later on he was woken by the sound of her throwing up in the bathroom again, then she climbed back in bed and reached for his hand.

When Caitlin told the doctor how awful she had been feeling, they took blood and urine samples from her straight away.

'Do you think its that serious?', she asked the doctor worriedly, 'I'm terrified, so is my husband, his first wife died of a rare blood disease.'

'I wish I could reassure you Mrs Jeremiah-Ryan, but I can't because we won't know anything until the results of these tests come back. It may be something you can live with, it may be something that needs treating.'

'Thanks for being honest with me.'

'I'll get the results to the lab straight away, go home and get some rest and I'll call you as soon as they come back.'

'I've done nothing but rest recently and I'm still exhausted.'

At home she got settled on the sofa with a blanket and a bucket by her side just in case.

'Think you can manage some food?', Joey asked her.

'Maybe some soup, see if I can keep that down. Thanks.'

'Coming right up.'

For the first time in a long while, she actually felt better after eating instead of worse.

'I think I may be getting a bit of an appetite back.'

'Would you like some more with some bread this time?'

'I'd love some thanks.'

Later that afternoon, just after Joey had left to pick Angie up from school in the car, the phone rang. It was the doctor she had seen at the clinic.

'Mrs Jeremiah-Ryan, I know how worried you were, so I got your tests rushed through. It's okay Caitlin. Your not dying, you haven't even got anything life threatening. I do want you to come and see me again in the morning though.'

'Thank you, actually I have been feeling a little bit better today, not much though.'

Caitlin was still feeling so tired, but at least she hadn't thrown up anymore of her food.

When Joey got back with Angie she had to tell them the good news.

'It's okay, I'm not dying. I haven't got a life threatening disease.'

Joey and Angie both ran over and hugged Caitlin close, all three of them crying tears of relief.

'So what is wrong with you?'

'I don't know, I have to go and see the doctor again tomorrow, but it is obviously something that I can live with and can be treated. Just the relief has made me feel a whole lot better.'

'Your not looking quite so pale now either.'

'I may even get some work done tomorrow when I get back from the doctors.'

'Promise me your come and see me at the office afterwards. I'm still worried about you. I just want you to feel better.'

'So do I.'

Caitlin actually slept well that night and it was the first time she hadn't thrown up for over a month. In the morning , she wasn't feeling great, but not half as bad as she had been. Maybe it was the relief of knowing whatever she had wasn't life threatening.

When she did get to the clinic though, she was still a little nervous when her doctor called her in.

'Mrs Jeremiah-Ryan, relax. You don't need to look so worried , its fine. It's nice for me to be able to dish out some good news for a change.'

'Good news?'

'That's right. This will probably come as a bit of a shock to you , because you clearly had no idea, but you are actually pregnant. That's what all the exhaustion and sickness you have been experiencing is. Though it isn't that often it carries on after the fourth month, though some unlucky people get it all the way through.'

Caitlin was dumbfounded, sat there looking shocked.

'I'm four months pregnant.'

'Almost five I would say. Congratulations.'

'But I had a bad miscarriage once, they said it was most likely I could never conceive again. And I don't know anything about babies, well not looking after one anyway.'

'Caitlin you will be fine. Now we need to fix you up with some appointments and then please go and give that gorgeous husband of yours the good news.

Caitlin left the clinic having had three appointments made for various things the following week and then went for a stroll through the park, still shocked. It was so hard to take in. Of course it made sense now, no periods, the weight she had put on, none of it she had noticed before, she had been feeling so ill. But eventually she decided it was time to face the music and started strolling towards Joey's office at the car yard. As well as her initial shock, she hadn't a clue how Joey was going to feel about having another child. She wasn't even sure how she felt about having one. It was something she had never even thought about. She and Joey had certainly never discussed having any children together.

'Caitlin, good to see your still looking better.'

'I've just come from the clinic. I'm not even sure how to tell you this.'

'Please don't tell me it is something serious after all.'

'No ,don't worry it isn't. Not in the way your thinking anyway. I don't think you are going to like it though.'

'Caitlin , just tell me. Your not dying, so nothing can be that bad.'

'I'm pregnant. Almost five months pregnant actually. I'm sorry.'

She was so busy apologising she didn't notice Joey's face break in to a smile at first.

'Sorry, Caitlin what are you apologising for?'

'Because you were probably beginning to think you would be through with the child rearing in a few more years, you already got one teenager off your hands and Angie is a teenager now.'

'So what? And that's what has been making you so ill?'.

'Yes, the doctor said I was really unlucky getting all the symptoms so bad for so long, though she also said it was a sign of a really healthy baby.'

'Oh my god Caitlin, the relief, the happiness.'

'You don't mind then?'

'Caitlin, it's the best news ever.'

'I know nothing about looking after babies. I'm still shocked.'

'Caitlin you will be a great mum, you are already a great step mum to Angie.'

'I'm still having trouble getting my head round the idea, don't think I'm not pleased. I'm over the moon you and I are going to have a child together. It's just taking some getting used to. And I can't help feeling scared after that miscarriage I had and everything.'

'Caitlin, you are way past that stage, its most unlikely your miscarry again now. Come here'.

Joey hugged Caitlin close to him still so relieved and happy that it wasn't a serious illness after all but a baby, their baby.

'I guess we had better tell Angie she is going to have little brother or sister when she gets home then'.

'I wonder how she will take it.'

'Well knowing Angie, she will either love or hate the idea, but either way, she is just going to have to get used to it.'

'Lets hope she loves the idea.'

'So did your doctor get you booked in for a scan?'

'And a whole bunch of other appointments next week. She said we should be able to find out if it's a boy or girl. I think I would rather know now.'

'Me too, helps plan in advance before its born, especially when it comes to buying stuff.'

'It looks like I'll soon have to update my autobiography yet again. I think it is just sort of starting to sink in.'

The next week Caitlin seemed to spend most of her time fitting hospital appointments around her work. Joey took time off to go with her when she had the scan done.

'Okay, so if you want I can tell you guys the gender of your baby.'

'Yes please', Caitlin was still in awe of having seen her child on the screen.

'Then I am pleased to tell you it looks like you have one very healthy baby girl in there.'

Later that week Caitlin had to go and see a specialist. He advised her that because of complications with her past miscarriage, he wasn't going to recommend natural birth, but a booked c-section about a week before her due date. Before she left his office , it was all booked and she knew the date her daughter was going to be born.

Caitlin was still taking in so much information that was new to her and so busy with work, she didn't really have time to think about how big she was getting, about her and Joey's baby growing inside her, not until the times it decided to have a good kick about inside her anyway. And at least the past couple of months she had felt so much better and had so much more energy.

Caitlin's Mum was thrilled at the thought of being a Granny at last as Caitlin's brother and wife hadn't been able to have any children. Caitlin spent a lot of her spare time with Spike, asking a lot of questions about looking after babies.

'I thought you guys were getting a nanny.'

'We are, but only for the daytime. She won't be around in the evenings or at weekends.'

'Caitlin , you will be fine. And Joey has brought up Angie. It isn't like you are going to be on your own like I was with Emma. When I think of the differences of when I had Emma to when I had Jack. Being a grown up yourself helps of course, but with Jack, I realised its having a partner that makes all the difference.'

'I know. I can't believe how lucky I am to live in the west and can afford decent medical care when women are still having their babies under trees in Africa.'

'I think its good you gave all that travelling up when you did. When the last series you did was on , I could see it in your face, I could tell how much it was really starting to get to you. I was so glad when you moved back home here for your sake as well as the fact that I missed my best friend very much of course.'

'We still not decided on a name for the baby you know. We can't agree on anything. We don't want anything too common or strange.'

'Your have to come up with something soon or she will be here.'

'I know, time is flying by. I've already moved my computer and work desk and made a make shift study at the far end of our lounge and my ex-study is now almost finished as a nursery. He, decorating a nursery, that's something I never ever thought I would be doing in my life.'

In the last two months of her pregnancy Caitlin finished her third book, another one on climate change, but this time on giving guidance on what people could do in everyday life to help slow down the process. The time she went to hospital for her C-section the final draft was on her editors desk ready to go for publishing.

Caitlin had chosen to be totally out of is during the operation. When she eventually came round afterwards, Joey was sat there beside her cradling their newborn daughter.

'She's beautiful', Caitlin cried as Joey handed her to her.

'Just like her Mum. And we have to really decide on a name now you know.'

'The other day I was thinking about a little girl I made friends with in one of the villages I did work in in Africa. She was a lovely little girl and her whole family were HIV positive. She died of full blown Aids first.'

'What was her name?'

'Tilly.'

'Tilly it is. That is a nice name and different. How about a middle name?'

'You choose.'

'Okay, Amanda, she was my kindergarten playmate that died before we even got to grade school.'

'Tilly Amanda Jeremiah-Ryan.'

'I called the school. Angie is coming by later.'

'I just want to go home.'

'You can in a few days, but remember you can't do anything strenuous for six weeks and I'm going to be around to make sure you don't. I'm taking time off work while the nanny settles in and you recover. We need to enjoy this time with Tilly, its precious. Once its gone, you can't get it back again.'

Later on after the shifts had changed and Joey and Angie had gone home, Caitlin was getting to grips with how to bottle feed her daughter when she got a total shock at the nurse who came in to the room.

Her name badge said Lorraine, but she was sure she had known this woman as a girl a long time ago, by another name.

'L.D?'

'No one has called me that since high school.'

'Caitlin?'

'We all thought you had died. I mean I know it was a while back now, but you never came to our first school reunion.'

'It would have been a bit difficult, from Perth, Australia. That is where my husband and I were living until last year. We went to Vancouver and now we are back here in Toronto.'

'It is so good to see you and looking so well.'

'I've been lucky. I count every day as a blessing. I've been in remission for nearly eighteen years, but I know I could still find myself fighting it off again at any time.'

L.D. then picked up Caitlin's chart and blinked.

'How long you been married to Joey?'

'Almost two years. I know, it took us long enough, it's a long story.'

'I met Robert at college in Vancouver, but he is from Australia originally, so we both have dual citizenship.'

'I know you are doing your rounds, but would you like to hold Tilly?'

'I'd love too', Caitlin handed Tilly over to L.D.

'Wait until I tell Joey he missed you.'

'Well if he comes in to see you early in the morning, my night shift doesn't end until eight.'

'He is going to be so surprised seeing you.'

'But for now I think its time you and Tilly both got some sleep. I'll take Tilly to the nursery, bring her in to you in the morning. You get a good nights sleep, you won't be getting many for a while once you get out of here.'

In the morning Caitlin and Tilly were waiting for Joey to arrive with L.D, It was worth the wait to see the look of surprise on his face.

'L.D?'

'That's me and that's exactly the same look Caitlin had last night when I walked in to this room.. Yes I am here, I am a fully qualified nurse and I am still alive. Caitlin will fill you in on the rest. Congratulations again guys and make sure you stay in touch.'

L.D. had already swapped numbers and email addresses.

Two days later Caitlin and Tilly were given the all clear to go home and Joey came to pick them up.

'Angie nagged me and nagged me to stay off school today. I practically had to march her through the doors in the end.'

'I guess the first thing I should do is update my website.'

'Okay, but you just remember you are supposed to be resting, so I'll put Tilly in her carry cot, you rest on the sofa and I'll get you your laptop.

Caitlin began to write a short update on her news page:-

Dear All,

I am very happy to inform you that Joey and I have a baby girl, born on Tuesday, weighing 7lbs and 4oz. We have named her Tilly Amanda. Pictures will be posted soon.

Lots of Love

Caitlin.

She kept it short and simple and to the point. The next day , Sue their Nanny arrived for her first day at work. Joey knew Sue, a woman in her early fifties from when she had been Angie's Nanny they had had to hire when Julia became too ill to care for her anymore.

'This baby girl is so much a mixture of the two of you', Sue couldn't believe how she could see so much of both Joey and Caitlin in this child. Babies usually looked more like one parent than the other. Angie had actually always looked like her Dad and still did.

Later in the day Caitlin once again got a call from her old boss at the station Tomas.

'I read your latest website update. Congratulations on Tilly and on having both the number one and number two spot in the non-fiction paperback charts this week.'

'Thank you. With Tilly arriving I had forgotten it was this week they were both coming out in paperback.'

'So any chance of an interview?'

'Maybe just the one and as long as its you that does it and you come here to the apartment.'

'Sure, how about next week?'

'Fine, but one bit of twisted journalism and your life won't be worth living Tomas.'

'Okay Caitlin I get the message. Don't worry I save the gossip stuff for the Hollywood and style celebrities, not people that do the serious stuff like you.'

When Tilly was six months old, Caitlin's third book went straight to number one in the hardback non-fiction charts and she was already halfway through her fourth. She had collected lots of old footage from her HIV/AIDS series for this one as it was all about the work she had done in places in the third world where most of the villages had HIV/AIDS. But she was also doing a section in it on the spread of the disease in western society as well. And for that she was currently trying to track down another high school classmate that had been a couple of grades above her originally , Dwayne, that's if he was still alive of course.

Caitlin was also still struggling to get to grips with motherhood. She had gotten to know Sue very well and always confided in her when she thought she was getting it all wrong with Tilly.

'Joey is such a good parent, thankfully. I am terrible, I haven't a clue.'

'No your not terrible Caitlin. Remember , Joey has been a parent a lot longer than you have. Your doing fine. And don't forget I will be here until eleven Friday evening so you and Joey can go out to dinner to celebrate you having three bestselling books in the charts.

'Thanks Sue, I think I would be lost without you.'

Tilly was actually a very advanced baby, she was already crawling around and Sue reckoned she would be walking by ten months.

When Joey got home Caitlin was still searching the net for signs if Dwayne was dead or alive. And if he was alive, how she could get hold of him.

'Still no luck with finding Dwayne then?'

'No, I'm beginning to think I may have to find someone else after all.'

'Don't give up yet, there must be a few more avenues we can try. L.D. wasn't at our school reunion remember and she is still alive and well.'

When Friday night came, they kissed Tilly and Angie goodbye and went out to enjoy their first night alone together since Tilly had been born. They had reservations at the restaurant at the top of the CN Tower, that was a special place to them now.

Before they went inside to join the queue for the lifts, Joey took Caitlin aside for a minute.

'Caitlin , life just gets better and better with you. I know we are both always so busy with work and the kids, but I love you. Never forget that.'

'I love you so much Joey, don't you ever forget that either. All the material things in life don't matter, their worthless without you.'

They kissed right there in public like a pair of oblivious teenagers and then went in to the tower to wait their ride to the top.

'Did you know Gary Watson is moving out and selling up the penthouse above our apartment?'

Gary Watson was a world famous conservationist and Caitlin had known him for a good few years before they were neighbours.

'No I didn't know that. But then he lives the kind of lifestyle you used to , he is never there.'

'His wife wants to move back home to England. Anyway he is selling it for a good price and I was thinking we could really do with somewhere bigger. I can buy it for us and have both our names put on the deeds, that way we could live in the penthouse and keep our current apartment for our work and for Sue to look after Tilly in during the day. What do you think? I mean if you don't want to that's fair enough, we can just forget the whole idea.'

'Actually Caitlin I think it's a great idea. We will both be able to keep work and home separate. Angie could have Tilly's old nursery as a study. We could even let her paint it herself.'

'I'll tell Gary in the morning then. I told him when he asked me if we would be interested in buying the place that I would discuss it with you tonight. He said if we like he can show us both round in the morning.'

'There is something else I have been wanting to run by you too.'

'Okay, I'm listening.'

'Remember when you got fed up of going round the world with your work, well I am getting fed up of selling cars now. And John, my assistant that managed the place for me when I lived in Calgary wants to buy the business from me and is offering a very good price too.'

'If that's how you are feeling, I'd take it. I would never want anyone to get to the stage I got to before I realised I needed to make a change.'

'That's what I was hoping you would say. I was also thinking of doing something else as well, but promise me you won't laugh.'

'Of course I won't, well not unless it is something totally ridiculous anyway.'

'Okay, here goes. You see ever since Craig's illness I've always been interested in child psychology . I thought I might go to university and study it. There is a foundation year you can do at the university if you are a mature student and haven't studied for a while. It's twenty hours a week at the university and then it will take me four years full time.'

'Why would I laugh? It's a great idea and I know you can do it.'

'Are you sure its okay, us having to live totally off what you earn for all that time?'

'Joey its fine. If I didn't write another book for five years or do any more freelance work, we could still live comfortably, even after buying the penthouse. And you know how much I love writing my books and my freelance work, I'm not likely to stop work for five hours, let alone five years, you know that.'

'Do you really think I can do it?'

'Of course you can Joey, you weren't dumb at school, that was proved and you learnt to deal with your learning disorder in the end. And so what you had a couple of bad years while you dealt with it. Forget what happened at school, what you did and didn't do back then, just concentrate on what I know your more than capable of doing now. I think we should order some more champagne, its clear we have a lot to celebrate tonight.'

'We do', they toasted each other and ordered more champagne.

When they were getting ready to leave the restaurant, Joey spotted someone he thought he vaguely recognised from high school, Tabby, a friend of Dwayne's. Surely she was bound to know if he was still alive or not.

'Eh, excuse me for intruding, but did you go to Degrassi High?'

'Degrassi, yes many, many years ago, class of nineteen-ninety, though I had to repeat a year and graduated in ninety-one in the end.'

'Your Tabby, you used to hang round with Dwayne.'

'That's right and your Joey.'

'That's right. Listen do you have any idea how to get hold of Dwayne?'

'Yes, he stays with Steve and I at our house. But he isn't well at all. He isn't in trouble or anything is he?'

'Nothing like that. Caitlin Ryan is trying to track him down.'

'I sure am', Caitlin came back from the bathroom.

'Here is the address and number. I can't guarantee he will be up to talking to you though. He doesn't see people much anymore, not now he is so sick.'

'Thanks Tabby. Actually would you mind if I contacted you too sometime. It's for my new book.'

'Sure why not?', Tabby smiled at Caitlin and Joey as they left and went back to eating her sweet , thinking how it would be good for Dwayne to see more people.

When they got home Caitlin and Joey were as quiet as possible so they didn't wake Tilly or Angie up and they paid Sue extra as it was after midnight when they arrived home and she was only supposed to be there until eleven.

They used to think their apartment was spacious, but it was nothing compared to the penthouse Gary Watson was about to sell them. All four bedrooms were twice as big and all had full en-suite bathrooms. There were two large lounges instead of one and it wasn't just a balcony they had, it was a full terrace with a swimming pool at the penthouse.

It was all done within a week, the exchange of contracts and Caitlin paying Gary Watson cash. They moved in two days after Gary left. Joey also went to tell his assistant the good news that he was willing to sell him the car dealership.

While Joey was busy doing that, Caitlin decided to try her chances calling on Dwayne.

The face of Dwayne was one Caitlin had seen many times before ,he was dying.

'I had been trying to track you down for months when we bumped in to Tabby.'

'Why?'

Caitlin explained about the work she was doing for her next book.

'I'll do the interview, but it's a good job you showed up now. They tell me I'll be gone sooner rather than later. I didn't want to die in hospital though so they let me come home. I have nurses come in every day. Tabby and Steve help look after me too when they are not working.'

'Are you sure you want to do this?'

'More than sure. The more people that are aware and educated, hopefully less will end up like me, not even forty and dying of something that so easily could have been prevented.'

'In that case, you okay to talk now?'

'Sure', Caitlin took her laptop out and typed in what he had just said before she continued.

Two hours later she hugged Dwayne goodbye.

'Promise me something Caitlin.'

'What?'

'That you and Joey come to my funeral and it goes in the book. I want people to remember me for what happened to me after being careless for just a few short minutes. I wasn't much use to people alive, maybe I'll be of some use to someone when I'm dead', but after he smiled. He wasn't being melancholy. He knew his fate, he had long ago accepted it and was now making a joke, knowing he would be getting a serious message across at the same time.

'I'm so glad I got the chance to do this for you Caitlin. I am so pleased you and Joey are happy together. Everyone deserves to be happy, life's too short.'

Caitlin hugged him again and then left. She knew it was the last time she would ever see him alive. They hadn't know each other well at school, until his last year, when she had tutored him in English.

It was late when she got home, both Angie and Tilly were long in bed. Joey was filling in his university application forms.

'Joey, I am so sorry I am late and didn't call. I went to see Dwayne and lost track of time. He did the interview for me. He's dying Joey. He will be gone in a few weeks, if not before. The interview, its heartbreaking. He can hardly stand up anymore. Nurses come in and take care of him. I know that was the last time I'll ever see him alive.' It clearly wasn't only her work in third world countries that made her cry.

'Honestly, that was one of the hardest interviews I have ever done. He is so thin, completely wasted away almost. I know you two were never the best of friends, but I tutored him a lot in his final year.'

'We didn't get on too badly in the end. I knew about his HIV long before anyone else, we kind of got on okay after that.'

'He has made Tabby promise to call me when he dies. I promised him we would go to his funeral and that I would put it in the book. Tabby is going to do an interview for me too once its all over. They have known each other since elementary school you know.'

'That's going to be hard for her, remember how scared I was when I thought I was going to lose you?'

'I know how scared I was and it turned out all that was happening was we were having Tilly. We were the lucky ones. You can read the interview on my laptop if you want.'

'Maybe tomorrow when I'm more awake. I'm kind of tired now. I think I am going to leave the rest of these forms until the morning too'

The phone call from Tabby came in the middle of the night three nights later. Tabby and her husband Steve had found Dwayne dead on the sofa when they got home from work. He had fallen asleep watching one of his favourite shows and had never woke up.

'It was peaceful and as painless as possible, he was on heavy medication to stop the pain. Steve and I will call you again when all the funeral arrangements are made.'

Caitlin wiped away the tears and hugged Joey close. When you heard of people dying, especially people you knew, it made you realise just how precious and fragile life was.

The funeral was arranged for the following Thursday and Joey and Caitlin confirmed they would be there.

'I've decided half the profits from this book are going to the AIDS charities, its only right.'

When they got to the church at the cemetery, Tabby's husband Steve was trying to console her, but she was inconsolable. Dwayne's parents were there and a few relatives, but it appeared Tabby was the only friend that had stuck by him over the years.

After they service they didn't hang round for long at Steve and Tabby's, they just wanted to go home to their own family, so grateful they still had each other.

The following week was a busy one. They finally finished moving all their stuff in to the penthouse and buying some new furniture for it. Joey was handling the dealership over to John now the money he had paid Joey for the business had been banked and he also had to finish off his university application. Caitlin had a ton of work to do for her book and had arranged to meet Tabby. She had told Tabby she could wait if she wanted, but Tabby said no, she wanted to do the interview while it was all still so raw. Six months later the final draft of Caitlin's latest book was ready to go to its publication stage. There was a lot of publicity about it already and Caitlin Ryan was in demand for interviews once more, for around the time of the book launch. She was already booked for signings at her favourite bookstore in Toronto. She was also booked for a breakfast TV interview and to a signing in Vancouver. She and Joey were already planning the few days in Vancouver together. They had both been to Vancouver before but it had been years. That was the only one she had agreed to do outside Ontario. And now she had her next book to get started. Caitlin wondered if perhaps her life was more hectic now than when she was jet setting round the world for the stories as a single woman. Not that she would change what she had now for anything. And then she started thinking about Ellie Nash again, surely she would be graduating soon and Caitlin was curious as to which direction the talented younger woman was going to take.