“You know, you would make an excellent Lawyer," he said, earning himself a slap on the butt. "But you're right. We can worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes."

“Exactly,” she replied, drawing his face down for a kiss. They lay entwined for a long moment, Rachel's tail curling possessively around

Josh's back. She was just about to suggest a second round when they heard the faint chime of the doorbell. From down the hall, they could hear footsteps (two pairs?) hurrying downstairs.

A few minutes Later, there was a knock on the bedroom door. At Rachel's relaxed nod, Josh gave permission to enter. Sarah's head poked around the edge of the door. She took in their nude state without blinking.

They were, Josh noted with an inward smile, becoming far less body-shy around each other.

“What's up, honey?"

"I...think you better come downstairs. There's a UPS guy at the door, and he has a lot of boxes and he says he needs someone to sign for them."

“Well, Althea," Rachel said, her voice rich with amusement. "I guess you're going to be staying here Longer than I thought." She slanted a quick look at Josh, who grinned and took another bite of taco casserole.

The pile of boxes which had greeted Rachel and Josh on the front porch had been truly extraordinary. Luckily, the driver hadn't insisted on

Althea's signature, as long as someone would take them off his hands.

She and Josh had hauled them upstairs, where, upon hearing about them when she returned from C.0.D. with Alex, Althea had proven to be no different than most other women where clothes were concerned. She had fallen upon the packages like a tigress, opening them with shrieks of glee. She, Maria, and Sarah had spent a happy afternoon trying on clothes, while the echoes of their giggles had reverberated throughout the house.

“Of course, my handmaiden," Althea replied, smiling slyly.

“After all,

I have to be sure I look my best when I go to Alex's play on Friday night, don't 1?

“By the way," she continued, “I have to commend you on letting him choose the artist's path. The boy has a true gift. If he is not one of the foremost actors of his generation, I will eat my new lingerie collection."

“That shouldn't be too hard," Maria said with a sly twinkle in her eye, as Alex blushed in response to Althea's praise. "I swear on the

Virgin's grave, you could swallow the whole thing in one mouthful without needing a drink of water."

Jeremy Laughed, nearly snorting his drink out through his nose, and had to have his back pounded by Sarah, who was sitting next to him. Althea fixed him with a gimlet stare, though humor lurked in the corners of her mouth.

“Laugh it up, boy. What have you been doing all day?"

He returned her look steadily.

“I'm working on putting in a garden."

"What?" Both Sarah and Rachel turned their heads to him in astonishment. Althea smiled and hid the expression by taking a drink from her glass of milk.

“A garden?" Sarah continued.

“What gave you that idea?"

“I don't know," Jeremy said, his tone somewhat defensive. He spread his hands as heads turned towards him. "I was hanging out here today, since