"Okay, I want details," Petra demanded into the phone. "You can't tease me with an 'oh, by the way guess what I did' and leave it at that. You know me."

Alix laughed. There were three messages from the woman on her answering machine when she finally dragged herself home Sunday afternoon. "Yes, I certainly do, after all this time." It was Sunday night and she was curled up on her bed, multiple pillows behind her, laughing at her friend's brash intrusiveness. And reminding ...