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IT WAS SIXTY-TWO degrees and breezy in San Francisco, with a big unclouded sky overhead Ramsey breathed in the clean air deeply and sh the half-openof his study that gave onto a se beyond, off in the distance He loved Sea Cliff, which was considered by many, himself included, to be thethe first tier of homes that sat atop the line of the cliffs at the northwestern tip of the city The ocean rolled in frouardian at the entrance of the bay to the right, connecting the city to the bleak naked Marin Headlands directly across froht There was still so now, deep into suly barren of life If the fog rolled in during the late afternoon, it would settle over the Headlands, and look for all the world like the setting for a Gothic erprinted, thoroughly cleaned up, and repaired He’d spoken to his secretary and both of his externs, the t clerks assigned to hie The three of theiven theet They’d gone over budget, but given the furniture and draperies that had been delivered and lovingly arranged throughout the house, he wasn’t about to bitch He wondered what else would be arriving It was interesting to see hih other people’s eyes His study wasand masculine now, full of leather and rich earth colors They’d spent a small fortune on the leather sofa and chairs and the iany desk, and he’d approved that as well The walls were still eht the art he would like

Given that less than a month had passed, they’d accomplished miracles

"Ramsey?"

"Yes, Eood"

He grinned as he leaned down and picked her up in his are leather chair and sat down He put his feet up on the sinfully rich leather hassock, so he’d never had before "Let’s look at the view together, okay? We can let our souls commune with nature Hey, where’s your piano?"

"Upstairs But hed, that adult sigh "I’ood even though she told me she was fine"

"What’s wrong?"

"She’s sick She sent me down here to keep you busy, to keep you away She doesn’t want you to know, but I’m worried Can you fix it, Ramsey?"

"Oh, damn Sorry, Emma Will you stay here and commune with nature for me?"

"Yes, but just for a little while Mareen"

"I’ll take care of her You stay put, all right, Eirl," he said, kissed her forehead, and took off upstairs He heard her retching from the top of the stairs There were three roouest roo She was in the bathroouest room The door was pulled to, but not closed all the way He inched it open Molly was on her knees, her head over the toilet, heaving

He didn’t say anything, just gently reached down to rub her shoulders, then hunched down on his knees beside her He pulled back her hair She sank back against him "You okay now?"

She moaned "I don’t want to talk I just want to die"

He flushed the toilet "Hold still, let ain "I wish you hadn’t coet you This is hulass of water She eyed it, then rose slowly "Let ot some antacid You want solad she had sense enough to fetch me More sense than herhi it He heard her rinse herbeside her to the bed There wasn’t a great view in the guestrooli here dying, the last thing I see will be beautiful"

"Nah, the last thing you’ll see is ain"