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This is the first e Raised in a northern suburb, where her parents still live--her father is a postmaster--she is the fourth of six children Three of theer brother, are an thinks, she is alone but not unacquainted with the life he has led, that custoan has already explained that the party will be held at his ex-wife’s house, a fact on which Nessa has made no co her thoughts so that others will revealsuspicious; eneration, raised in apartners

The drive to Olla’s takes thirty minutes Their talk comes easily Little mention is made of the conference He questions her about her work, if she enjoys it, which she says she does She likes the travel,to shape it into stories "I was always like that, even as a kid," she explains "I’d sit in my room and write for hours Silly stuff ot s"

"Do you still write fiction?"

"Oh, once in a while, just for fun Every reporter I know has a half-written novel in their desk somewhere, usually pretty awful It’s like a disease we all have, this wish to get below the surface soer pattern"

"Do you think that’s possible?"

She considers the question, looking out the windshield "I think there is one Lifedinner and taking your car to the repair shop Wouldn’t you agree?"

They are passing through an outer neighborhood: tidy houses set far back fros barking from the yards as they drive by

"I think an says "At least, we hope so It can be very hard to see, though"

She seems pleased with his answer "So you have your way, and I have o to church I write stories You study history They’re not really so very different" She glances over at hi world "I have a friend who’s a novelist He’s rather famous--maybe you’ve heard of him The man’s a total e his clothes, the whole cliché of the tortured artist I asked him once, Why do you do it if it oing to hly depressing, too"

"What did he say?"

" ‘Because I can’t stand not knowing’ "

They arrive The door stands open in welcome; the road in front of the house is lined with cars Parents and children of various ages areahead, bearing the presents they cannot wait to see opened, their an hadn’t realized the party would be so large; who are all these people? Coues of Race and Kaye and their families, Olla’s sisters and their husbands, a few old friends Logan recognizes but in soreets thee, soray since her early forties, falls uned to her shoulders Gone forever is the barrister in a polished suit and heels, replaced by a woan on both cheeks and turns to Nessa to shake hands, her eyes bright with barely concealed surprise; never did his ex-wife ioes to the kitchen to fetch drinks while Logan and Olla carry their presents to the spare rooifts rests on the bed

"Who is she, Logan?" Olla says enthusiastically "She’s lovely"

"You "

"That’s entirely your business How did you meet her?"

He tells her about the interview "It was kind of a shot in the dark," he ader like lad you asked her And she certainly see the adults, greeting those he knows, introducing hian exits through the patio doors onto the aardens, Bettina’s handiwork The children areto some secret code of play He spies Nessa seated with Kaye at the edge of the patio, the two of therips him by the arm