at the

amazement, because Timothy grinned. The hall was simple, decorated with a few small paintings, and in a c

culously, he succeeded. Only seconds later there was peace in the house. From an open door, which probably led into a living room, came a woman, slightly shorter than Timo

his hand with both of hers. "Welcome. I

pleasure to meet you... Adele." He had to get used to the quick

s and sat on a step halfway down. "Who's he?" He took Paul in through his black eyes from

"Travis. Where a

" the boy shrugged. He then persisted in star

mothy had called, " Adele sai

said. "He was trying to destroy the house

witch at that. "

n and don't mind the children. Travis is the youngest and too prot

med down the stairs. That made Travis j

lled after him, "and we'r

g room, Paul heard a door

s she pointed to a large settee near the window

ace. The wooden floor creaked softly under his shoes and for some reason it made him feel good. The sound was in a way

binet was a small refrigerator from where he pulled a bottle. White wine. "It's a picture she made not very far f

imagination. It is far bet

lly glass. "Do you paint

ms to revolve around the stars, astronomy and the p

ould be a good match for you in that respect, sh

said so much alread

lying on the window sill. "You me

alked into the hall and yelled to no one in particular that she could use a hand or two in the

and a son?" Paul asked, doi

ays in the books. She's sixteen. And Angela is twenty-two. They'll be down for din

he conference, and Timothy talked about the 'farming' he did, which was mainly landscaping, but also large farm-redesign

g, red skirt and a white blouse. "Dinner's - Oh, you must be Mister Ca

ctor Paul Eric Carmichael, from B

smiled. "It is nice to meet you. Paul will be fin

to call you to the kitchen while I gather Sandy and the rocker." She turned and walked ou

pboards and the large bar-like table in the middle of the kitchen where plates and cutlery were all laid out. Adele directed Paul to a chair, Timothy ran back t

andy?" Ade

d me, " Angela sighed. "She proba

eft, Paul wondered "

'll forget to walk at times." A few loud voices rang in

first was her bleach-blond hair with a blue rim dyed into it. The girl carried a book under her arm, which she lai

without even considering to shak

ed. He looked at the book. "An intr

f the they wrote, " Sandy nodded, picking up the bo

on the kitchen counter. "No star-stuff while we eat,

in her food, " Travis co

ness, music monster

ble, so he mostly let the others do the talking and only answered the questions he was asked. Angela had fun as she asked him to translate words into Welsh, which she then tried to pronounce. Even Travis relaxed a bit and j

cided to let this go by, as it was the first

. That was an easy word; al

word, " Sandy sa

nable for now. When she saw that he had seen her, she blushed. He just wi

commented that he had never eaten like that before. "I sha

ld you go back? If you want you can sleep here, we have plenty of room and Tim is go

with everything he'd need. He'd even have a private bathroom. Considering the fact that Don would probably not show up at the hotel (if his plans came true), Paul did not need much con

d it against her as if it were a treasure, and Paul, who h

good for me to talk to Sandy for a while? It really

he has to be in bed by 9:30, sh

got up and looked at the girl.

r words she walked out of the kitchen, not ev

mply said "It's okay, don't worry.

into the hall and up the stairs, just in time to see Sa

*