"Hi. Nigel. Yeah. I think I have her."

"You think you do Dave, or you do?"

"Well I did – I did earlier. But –"

"You had her, and now you don't?"

"Yeah that's – that's the size of it. I saw her, Leann, earlier, at the beach – at the carousel. But I – I lost track of her. But Leann is here in Brighton."

"So why're you talking to me instead of finding her? I want my wife and my daughter home. Now."

"Because I'm keeping an eye on the sister. You said she's down here - probably because her sister has a place here, right? Right?"

"Yeah."

"Well I got the sister and I'm watching her. This Caroline looks just like her. She must be under a new name these days. But – but she's a dead ringer. And Jeep's grey, not black like you said. At least – you said you remembered it being black. But car seat and all, it's – it's gotta be her sister. I saw them together – well saw them at the same place - earlier."

"Gotta be her sister? This sounds like a load of shit, Dave. And Leann never said anything about her sister changing her name."

"No no. Nigel, listen. Listen. They met up this afternoon. Down at the beach. Then they split up. But some dumb hulk working at the carousel there just walked me right to the sister. He had Misty's sweater with him. She's gotta be around."

"I hear a lot of maybes and gottas and must'ves from you. You better not be making excuses."

"Listen. It fits. This woman, the sister, goes by Caroline, was real flighty, seemed touchy the whole time talking to this guy tonight. Whole time at the car wash this morning too. Acted like she had somewhere else to be. With me and with this guy. Couldn't wait to get rid of me – us – either of us. Like she didn't want people around."

"Yeah she probably did act flighty this morning. Because you ran into her, Dave."

"That – that was not my fault. She backed right into me."

"Nice job keeping your distance."

"Ah she doesn't know anything, like I said. Testy. She was – was distracted. Don't think she even saw me standing right in front of her. It was more that she – she looked right through me."

"So you think you have Leann's nervous sister. This is real good stuff Dave, real good stuff."

"C'mon Nigel. You send me down here with nothing but a couple pics of Leann and a ten-year-old picture of her sister. That's nothing to go from. I'll get her tomorrow, latest, and bring her home."

"Yeah Dave. That's exactly what you're going to do. She's going to be home by tomorrow afternoon. I already sent Mitch down. He'll be there in a couple hours.

"No. No. Don't. I don't want Mitch. He's too impulsive."

"Too bad. He's on his way. So be a good boy. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Yeah Nigel, tomorrow."

Dave hung up his mobile and tugged his collar against the rain that was picking up intention. The lights went in the condo where the blonde woman was staying (she must be Leann's sister, it made the most sense).

He started off, now looping back around to the flat where he'd followed the giant red-head, to check him out one more time. Maybe Leann had hired him. He let go of a deep breath he didn't know he's been holding. Jesus. Nigel sending Mitch. That wouldn't go well at all.

"Breakfast delivered right to me? Even though it's not to make up for anything? Just because you're sweet? Because you are, you know."

"If you keep saying it, I might believe it, Mel."

"OK. I will keep saying it. You're really very sweet Caroline, and I'm soooo lucky." Mel crossed her legs under her on the couch and pulled a red tartan wool blanket closer around her shoulders. The rain that had been threatening to get serious all week had materialized in earnest overnight.

It was still early dawn. The clouds were thick and dark and the sun was nowhere in sight, but the light was growing bright enough to venture out. Mel had woken them early to listen and watch the rain out the front windows while nursing tea. They 'could watch the world wake up.' It had only taken Caroline a few minutes to fall back asleep again next to Mel on the couch, but she'd enjoyed the time she'd been awake, with the rain pelting the windows and Mel right next to her in quiet rapture at the same sight. Mel had begun poking her about breakfast ten minutes ago and she'd agreed to go foraging.

"Yes, you are lucky. I am as well. And I don't mind the rain. I'm not afraid of melting."

"You should be, because you're made of sugar. And spice. All the nice things."

Caroline narrowed her eyes and sprung from the couch. "Oh now it's just too much. You want something. Besides pastries." She shook her finger and her head at Mel. This was laying it on thick, even for her.

"Can we have curry for breakfast? Please?"

"Oh dear god Mel. No. And where am I even going to get curry at this hour?" But Caroline was already in the entryway pulling on her boots. She popped her head out as she was tying up her thick blond hair – a lot greyer in the last few years if she didn't keep right on top of it.

She shrugged on her lined navy slicker and Mel piped up with a waiting answer. If there were curry available near-dawn anywhere in Brighton, she'd find it. Caroline was already resigned to her fate.

"See that's the brilliant part! I've already figured it out for you. There's a hole in the wall not four blocks over that has takeaway – and it's open. Nothing fancy but it's worth a try. Please?"

Caroline stood in the entry. She pursed her lips, crossed her arms and considered Mel's entreating green eyes. She crooked her finger at Melanie.

Melanie rolled up and off the couch. She approached Caroline with deliberate steps, one in front of the other, eyes brighter with each one. "You're going to say yes, aren't you?"

Caroline turned her head to one side and pointed at her cheek.

Melanie took the cue right off and planted several kisses. "You are made of sugar, Caroline. Don't every let anyone tell you differently."

"I won't. But don't go spreading rumors about it. Particularly at the school."

"I promise I'd never, never do anything to undermine your stern reputation. I know how hard you've worked for it. Lips sealed." Melanie made the obligatory zipping motion before launching another volley of kisses at Caroline's cheek.

"All right. All right. I'm off." Caroline laughed her way out the door and pulled up the hood of her navy rain coat and buttoned it over her thick oat-meal colored cable knit sweater. She tucked her amber scarf into the gap in the coat – nothing she'd ever purchase herself, but a gift from Melanie in one of her favored shades of orange – and set off to retrieve the curry. Melanie had sent the address to her mobile and she studied it as she walked.

A few minutes later and convinced she was on the right path, she looked up and around. On her right the ocean pitched and roared in angry black swells that punished the beach with each crashing wave. The tide was out, but on occasion she could still feel the spray sting her nose as it drifted past her.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a blaze of bright pink. A clump of fabric wrapped around the base of a black lamppost just ahead of her. As she bent to pick it up she felt an odd lightness in her head and a pit in her stomach. Sure enough, there was the red heart, right in the center of the sweater.

She stood with it at arm's length, clasping it with the tips of fingers. It did not at all resemble the cute, fuzzy missing bit of warmth from last night - a loved and worn spot of comfort sure to be missed by its young owner. No longer. Now it was stained, and sinister. Murky water ran off of it back into the puddle it came from.

Caroline wasn't sure what to do. Leaving it here seemed the wrong thing to do. As though she would not be leaving just the sweater, but also the ghost of the owner with it, abandoned in the cold rain. One thing was clear about it, it certainly would have fit Flora. How could she leave it here the ground where anything could become of it?

On the other hand - it was soaked and dirty.

The impossibility of leaving it behind outweighed the impracticality. She wrung it out the best she could and tucked it under her arm. She frowned and looked around, realizing she'd been so mesmerized by the sweater she'd not even noticed if anyone else might have something to say about the situation.

Apparently no one did.

'Because no one else is out at seven on a miserably wet Monday morning fetching curry for breakfast.'

No one who wasn't in love, of course. She and Melanie had been making a slow go of it over the past year. There had been plenty of time and opportunity to test each other's foibles. Mel's seemed far more surmountable than her own.

Greg had 'discovered' Melanie Wysocki two years ago. She was the weekday children's librarian at Harrogate and after months of Greg's raving about her she'd finally gone in one day on a whim while Sulgrave Heath was on a holiday. Melanie was only a couple years younger than Caroline, but she had a suspicion Greg was nursing a serious crush and wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

The reason for the crush was immediately apparent to Caroline. Though an unconventional blend, Melanie's Indian and Polish heritage worked out for her. Brown skin, green eyes, dark hair. She wasn't tall, she wasn't short, neither chubby nor thin. But her vibrancy and buoyancy turned the trick for the kids and parents who adored her, including Greg, and most particularly Caroline. Melanie's synergy eclipsed her parts and Caroline did consider herself quite lucky for having found her.

And on top of it all, there was no need to force an awkward new relationship on Flora. A year later Caroline was now more than ready for a serious commitment. And Melanie wasn't. She thought back on their fight yesterday morning. Instead of anger she felt discouragement. Melanie loved her – she was sure of it. And Caroline loved Melanie – hence early morning curry runs. So what was missing?

Head down and the out of place sweater still tucked under her arm, she almost walked right past her destination. If it hadn't been for the bright orange awning and the multiple neon signs in the window she wouldn't have looked up.

She stepped into the steamy-hot breakfast curry anomaly that Melanie's curiosity and hunger had ferreted out. The sweet and spicy smelling warmth of it revived her soggy spirits. She stomped her feet at the abrupt climate change and shook off her hood.

"Whew. OK. What've we got here?"