Before her death, Donna had been Chairwoman ( she detested the word 'Chairperson') of the

committee to raise funds for Bay City University Hospital's new wing. Rachel had agreed to take her

place. Her first decision was whether or not to cancel the Fund-raising Gala which Donna had

planned for Saturday night at the Harbour Club. Rachel decided it should go forward; Donna would

have wanted it that way.

"Oh, Rachel!" Paulina said, when they met at the entrance to the Harbour Club, "Isn't it terrible?

Jake didn't stop crying for a week! He and Vicky had been best friends since kindergarten!"

"It's the senselessness of it all that's so overwhelming," said Rachel, "Four people who had

everything to live for, dead in an instant. Why do these things have to happen?"

"So - you went to the cottage? How are the children?"

"The Twins and the baby don't understand why their parents haven't come back." said Rachel,

"Steven and Kirkland are being very brave. At least they still have Carl!"

"I wouldn't have thought Carl would be much consolation!" said Paulina, "To hear Iris tell it, he's

Satan Incarnate."

"She hasn't seen him with the children." said Rachel, "He's wonderful with them - sweet and patient

and loving."

"He could have been putting on an act for your benefit."

"You can't fool children, and they love Carl. Even Clara stops crying as soon as Carl picks her

up."

***

Cass and Frankie had just arrived, but before they could check their coats, Cass said, "Let's go

home! This is a mistake! Charlie isn't old enough to babysit her little brother!"

"Yes, she is!" said Frankie, 'She's done it before!"

"In the daytime! Never at night!"

"Day - night - the principle is the same." said Frankie, "And it's not like we're going to be out all

night. We can go home in a couple of hours."

"A couple of hours? " Cass pulled out his cell-phone and called home. "There's no answer!

Something's wrong!"

"Let it ring a couple of times before you hit the panic button." said Frankie.

"Charlie! Is everything all right? Why didn't you answer the phone? Oh!"

Frankie mouthed What?

"Marcello had to go potty." Cass explained, "We'll be home soon, Honey. Yes, of course we trust

you! Bye!"

***

The staff had decorated the restaurant with black and white balloons and streamers, and each table

had a black candle set in the middle of a posy of white flowers. Most of the female guests were

wearing black, either as a token of mourning or as a fashion statement; it was hard to say which, and ,

of course, the men wore tuxedos.

Rachel stepped up to the podium. "Thank you all for coming." she said, "This is not the happy

occasion it was intended to be - but the very fact that terrible accidents happen every day - that

people's lives can be shattered in an moment - makes it all the more important that BCUH keep its

facilities up- to-date. So, I hope that you will open your hearts - and your wallets - and give

generously ."

***

Some enchanted evening, the orchestra played, You may see a stranger/ You may see a

stranger/ Across a crowded room/ And somehow you know/ You know even then/ That soon

you will see him again and again.

"I wonder who that is, with the Police Commissioner?" said Felicia, "He's very good-looking."

Lorna glanced his way. "Nice eyes." she said.

"Nice? They're gorgeous!" said Felicia, "Commissioner Raines! How are you?"

"Hello, Felicia." he said, "Felicia Gallant, let me introduce you to Gabriel MacNamara; Gabe will

be taking over as Captain of the Bay City Police."

"How do you do?" said Felicia, offering him her hand.

"Felicia Gallant , the novelist?" said Gabe, "Sarah - my wife - used to love your books."

"Why did she stop?" Felicia wondered.

"She died."

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"It - was a long time ago."

"Come and meet my daughter," said Felicia, "Lorna!"

"Yes, Mother," said Lorna, with an air of infinite patience.

"Captain Gabriel Macnamara - my daughter, Lorna Devon."

Their eyes met - and locked. "Gabe." he said.

"Lorna." she breathed. The orchestra started a new number: Strangers in the night/

Exchanging glances/ Wondering in the night/ What were the chances/ They'd be sharing love /

Before the night was through -

"Would you like to dance?" said Gabe.

They glided out onto the dance floor.

Ever since that night/ We've been together/ Lovers at first sight/ In love forever/ It turned

out all right/ For strangers in the night.

The music stopped as Grant Harrison entered the restaurant. A wide smile broke across Gabe's

face. "Grant!"

"Gabe!" They shook hands, while embracing ( in a thoroughly manly fashion, of course).

"It's good to see you again." said Gabe.

"I've been looking forward to it." said Grant, "Hello, Lorna."

"Grant." she said, coldly.

"We must get together soon." said Gabe.

Grant's attention wandered to the door, where Carl had just come in. "Uh, yes - certainly. Excuse

me."

"How do you know Grant?" said Lorna, as he moved off.

"We were best friends in college." said Gabe.

"I don't know what Grant was like in college," said Lorna, "But these days, he doesn't have

'friends'; he has people he uses, until he's used them up."

"I take it you're not a member of the Grant Harrison Fan Club." said Gabe.

"Nobody in this town is, except you."

"In that case, perhaps you don't want to have anything to do with me."

"I never said that." said Lorna, coyly.

"Shall we say - dinner, tomorrow night?"

"I warn you, " saide Lorna, "I have expensive tastes."

"I can see you take good care of yourself." said Gabe.

***

Meanwhile, Carl's entrance had been noticed by more people than Grant.

"What's he doing here?" said Amanda.

"Presumably, he paid for a ticket, like everyone else." said Rachel.

Carl headed straight for them. "Good evening." he said.

"Carl!" Paulina threw her arms around him. "I want you to know - Jake and I have decided that, if

this baby I'm carrying is a girl, she'll be Vicky Jr - and if he's a boy, he'll be Ryan."

"Thank you, Paulina." said Carl, "They'd be honoured, if they knew."

"They know!"

"I wish I shared your faith in an afterlife, but I've never been a believer."

The orchestra struck up a new tune: I've been around the world in a plane/ I've settled

revolutions in Spain/ The North Pole I have charted/ Still I can't get started/ With you -

"May I have this dance, Rachel?' said Carl.

" Hutchins !" It was Grant. "I want to see my son!"

"You have no son." said Carl, and turned his back. Grant grabbed his shoulder and spun him

around.

"I don't care what some damned piece of paper says!" he grated, "Kirkland is mine! He needs

me!"

"What Kirkland needs is to be protected from you." said Carl, "I intend to do that!"

Fixing Grant with an unblinking obsidian glare, Carl took out his cell-phone.

"Debra? Hutchins here. If Grant Harrison comes to the house, don't let him in - just call the police.

Make sure all of the doors and windows are locked."

"You can't keep me away from my boy forever!" said Grant.

"I'll say this once - I shoot tresspassers at sight!"

"You-!" Grant walked out. Carl turned back to Rachel.

"You'd shoot Grant?" Rachel was shocked.

"That was a bluff, Rachel." said Carl, "I don't even have a gun. I wouldn't have one in the same

house as the children. "

By now the orchestra was playing More than you know/ More than you know/ Man of my

heart, I love you so/ Day to day I find/ You are on my mind/ More than you know-

"May I have this dance?" Rachel let Carl lead her out onto the dance floor.

***

"Well?" said Felicia

"Well what?" said Lorna.

"Are you going to see Captain MacNamara again?"

"I'm bound to; Bay City is a small place." said Lorna. Taking pity on her mother, she added, "I'm

having dinner with him tomorrow."

"Oh!"

"Don't start choosing names for the grandchildren yet, Mother." said Lorna, "It's just a meal."

***

"I understand that you have taken charge of the Fun-Raising Committee." said Carl, "How much is

BCUH's new wing going to cost?"

Rachel named a figure. Carl took out his chequebook. "The only condition I make is that it be

called the Ryan and Victoria Harrison Memorial Wing." he said, as he handed Rachel the finished

cheque. Rachel looked at it: "Oh my!"

She raised her voice" May I have everyone's attention, please?"

The orchestra stopped playing; everyone turned towards Rachel.

"I'm pleased to announce that we have reached our goal, due to the generosity of Mr Carl

Hutchins!"

There was a murmur of surprise, then everyone applauded.

"Carl - where did he go?"

Rachel looked around; Carl had faded into the night.

***

To be continued