Chapter Ten �Magnanimous,� Jack decided, as he stowed his few things in the tiny guestroom vacated by Nora - much to Lauren�s delight, for with Nora bunking in with her, she would have her Aunt No all to herself for long conversations after lights out. Rod Urqhart, having only recently learned that he�d lost his bright prospect, had nonetheless generously - and without rancour - suggested that the probable cause for his loss should stay with them until he got his feet back under him again...if his sister-in-law had no objections. Whatever her thoughts, Nora kept them to herself and hoped like hell that her smile looked sincere. It had been mid-afternoon on a hot Friday when Jack and Nora had joined the pre-holiday weekend queue at the D.M.V. to see if they could get him a temporary driver�s license. �One must never discredit Fate,� Kate was to later chide her sister when Nora recounted their frustrations with what had happened shortly after their arrival. They had been next to be served when the computer system had gone down. In fact, everything went down. From Maine to New Jersey, millions of demanding air conditioners had sucked the last watt of electricity from the eastern power grid. The two looked at each other in complete and utter disbelief as the small office complex was suddenly plunged into dim light and quiet. Like most of the others there, they waited until closing time; hopeful the power would be restored. Like everyone else, they left disappointed. There was no question, of course, of Nora leaving the island to take Jack back to New York, even though all the outgoing flights from the small airport were already fully booked. That was simply a tacit understanding between them. It didn�t mean that she was callous about his predicament, but Nora Lewin had needed this time and intended to embrace it, Jack or no Jack. And, appalled at how his bonanza of four days on Martha�s Vineyard with a beautiful young woman had spiralled into his worst nightmare, Jack McCoy knew that he was in no position to ask anything more of Nora or her family. By the time dinner was over, an embarrassed and recalcitrant Jack knew that he was genuinely welcomed - at least to varying degrees - and had begun to relax with his hosts. As they did every summer evening when the weather cooperated, they�d eaten outside, Rod in charge of the barbeque, the women enjoying preparing a meal in the slow-paced atmosphere. The dishes done, Jack wiping - �Because,� pointed out Nora with a wink as she passed him the dishtowel, �you like to wipe.� - Jack excused himself to go for a run. Rod, still oblivious to the drama that had been unfolding around him, immediately suggested that the long, sandy driveway was too soft. �Why don�t you run on the beach where it�s firmer? Nora drives to some one of the beaches for a walk every evening, Jack.� In all innocence he turned to her. �You wouldn�t mind at all, would you Nora?� She was caught off-guard. �You�re goddamned right I�d mind!� announced her stricken face to all but her brother-in-law. But, �No, no, that�s fine with me� came from her treasonous mouth. Mortified, Jack hastened to fill in the uncomfortable ensuing silence. �I don�t want to put anyone out any more than I have already.� He turned to Nora. �Really, it doesn�t matter where I run.� Used to the easy-going Kate, the full import of Nora�s look was lost on Rod. �There�s no need to feel you�re inconveniencing anyone, Jack! It�s perfectly alright to go with Nora.� R e v i e w H o m e Nothing could have prepared Nora for what awaited her. Nothing. Completely dry, yet with a bath sheet wrapped around him, a wide-eyed Jack stepped back to let he |