"So how are the Hopeless-Savages doing these days?" Parker was laid out on a lounger, pink drink with umbrella in hand, next to Zero. "And how long can you stay?"

Parker pulled out her phone and thumbed the speed-dial, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel as she pulled her Porsche into the drive at the Miller B&B. Unlike calls and letters earlier this month, this one was strictly business ( Read more... )

Parker had gotten a table with an umbrella, a glass of lemonade, and a small chocolate cone while she waited for Jack. She had her sunglasses on as she scanned the mall, and was considering the charms of one of the local bicycle cops while she waited. He took off his helmet, and seemed to be smoothing down his hair as she carefully licked her cone ( Read more... )

Parker woke up early, the sun in her eyes, and for a moment didn't know where she was. The light was wrong for Rome, the bed was wrong for Moscow, the sounds were wrong for Fandom. She lay there, and finally closed her eyes, and it came back: Lake Catherine. She was at Ben's. Remembering made her so relieved that she turned over and went back to ( Read more... )

"So how are you settling in?" Parker asked Giusseppe, peering at him over her sunglasses. "Doing the priest thing."

Giusseppe gave her an amused look, and said, "Very well, thank you for asking. How is that separation of Church and Parker developing? Still in a Cold War?"

( A conversation, with ocean view. )