Finally, in the distance, she saw a very tanned man sitting on a mat. His long brown hair was dancing in the breeze. As Diane approached, he inhaled deeply, as if waking up from a nap. As she got closer, she could see he was sitting in a lotus position. He stood and stretched, but he looked very unhappy. He stared out at the ocean for a long time. Then he bent to pick up the mat, and as he stood to shake it out, he turned around and froze at the site of her.

Diane turned and caught the islander�s eye. She waved at him, and he waved back. He turned to leave. Diane turned back around and approached the man on the beach, who had quickly rolled the mat while she was otherwise occupied.

�I must say, this is a great surprise, and a wonderful pleasure,� the man said.

�Matisse, huh?�

�Yes, I thought it was appropriate for what I am. Hey, who�s this?�

�Meet Michael,� Diane said with a smile. Matisse leaned over and touched the baby�s cheek with his finger. The baby opened his eyes wide and stared at the brown man who looked down at him with matching jade eyes.

�Hello, Michael,� he whispered, and the baby grasped his finger with his right hand. �I think he likes me,� Matisse whispered to Diane.

�That makes two of us,� Diane whispered back.

Matisse looked up at Diane and smiled. She didn�t remember the last time she saw that smile up close. She reached out and placed her hand on his face. He closed his eyes and leaned into her hand. She moved her fingers and felt the stubble on his face. Matisse opened his eyes and leaned over the baby to kiss Diane. She pulled her face away and took a step back. Disappointment darkened his face.

�What�s wrong?� Matisse asked.

�I want to know why. Why me? Why a baby?� Diane�s voice warbled as she fought back tears. She crossed her arms over the baby. Matisse looked at her and sighed. He dropped his head down and kicked up plumes of powder with his toes for a moment while he worked on an answer. �And I want the truth. You owe that much to me.�

�I was undercover, working at CitiWide,� he began.