"Fireplace," he pointed to the wall. "Switch on the left".

Diane crawled over and pushed the switch. The bluish flames burst to life and the room began to regain it's heat. Starting again on his lower back she pressed down and he let out a small groan. Satisfied with the effect, Diane went to work giving Harry a massage.

"How long have you been supporting Gracie?" she asked as rubbed along his neck.

"A while. My oldest sister, Siobhan, asked me to watch out for Gracie when she left home and moved to New York about a year ago. She managed to get a pretty decent job and I helped to get her set up in her apartment. I thought that would be about all there was to it."

"Things didn't go as planned?"

"She got all tangled up with this low life and I tried to warn him off, but it just made Grace mad. I didn't hear from her in a while... couple of months. Then she shows up at my door one night with a busted lip and a story to tell."

"Did she tell her parents what happened?"

"No. They don't know anything about this." He paused and took a deep breath. "No one does."

Diane began kneading the muscles along his sides and Harry cringed with a loud gasp. In a lightening quick movement he rolled over and grabbed her hands tightly. His years in the Marines had left him with instinctual reactions to pain and it startled both of them.

She stared at him wide eyed.

"It's all right Harry, lay back down. I'll remember to leave your ribs alone."

"Sorry." He let her go and resumed his prone position. "Now you know my weakness. I'm completely at your mercy."

She laughed a little and continued with the massage, on his arm this time. The lines of his body reminded her of marble sculptures she had admired in a museum many years ago. Working her way down from his shoulder, she used her thumbs to loosen the tension she felt along his biceps. Then when she reached his wrist, she held his hand and firmly pressed on the palms and each finger.

When Diane felt him relaxing again she asked, "Is Grace afraid to tell her family because of the baby?"

"No, not really." He thought for a moment and then continued."They'd probably be very proud of the choice she's made and how she's managed to make it this far. Her child is gonna get a great home, and Gracie deserves all the credit for what she's doing."