"A nice family, don't you think?" Ann remarked.

"A happy one now, for sure." Frank answered. He had finished early in surgery but failed to get down in time to meet the family. They kept waving, watching the vehicle finally leave the drive and disappear into the traffic.

"I wish ours was."

Frank Steadman and Ann exchanged a silent looked over his son's head. "How about a bite to eat? I think today's good deed deserves a treat."

"All of us?" Garret asked, looking at them.

"Of course all of us. We're a team aren't we?" He blinked and looked sideways at Ann who avoided his eyes.

The steak dinner forty-eight hours ago had been an awkward thrill. Alone, just the two of them in the dim light of the dining room, bathed in soft romantic music over the clink of crystal and china. Frank had seemed so relaxed and open, talking about the case with a confident ease she hadn't seen in months.

When she balked at a bottle of wine he chided her and enlisted the aid of the waiter to coax her into trying some. The meal had been wonderful and Ann had eagerly joined his happy mood, almost forgetting that he was married.

He had seen her to her door in a cab and when she leaned back in to say thank you and goodnight, he had drawn his fingers down her cheek and thanked her for everything in the past. His touch felt like warm electricity that set her skin tingling. Ann had watched the taxi drive off and with difficulty, through blurred eyes, managed to fumble the key into the lock and find her way inside.

***

Dippy Diner was notable for its forties decor, tabletop arcade games and huge artery clogging hamburgers. A bright green vinyl booth curved around a Formica table with a pattern of tiny pink stars. The menus were tall and thin in stark contrast to the clientele who looked like they took all their meals at the Dippy Diner.

"Our colleagues would gag if they could see us eating here," Ann joked.

"Can't go through life without some risk. What do you think you'd like? The burgers are to die for."

"You're sure their not to die from, eh."

Garret laughed and beamed at the adults across from him. Ann was so nice and dad always seemed to smile when they were together. "I'm having the Pile Driver and a milkshake. Chocolate."

"What on earth is a Pile Driver?" Ann studied the menu and gasped when she read the description. "Garret, you couldn't possibly."

"Sure I can. We've had them before, right dad?"

"Doctor Steadman! I'm putting you on report. That's simply greedy indulgence."

"Actually Carol and I shared one." The remark seemed to hang heavily over the trio and there was a lot of throat clearing and menu reading by all.

"You should have the Toreador, Miss Hairston. It's really good too." Garret tried desperately to rekindle the smiles that both the adults had dropped.

"Hmm, the Toreador. Let's see." Ann ran a finger down the list. "Oh my goodness! Garret, how much do you think I can eat?" She gave him a mock frown and shook her head. "I think I'll just have the Village Greens and some garlic bread."

They laboured through the huge servings, laughing occasionally about calories, relaxed with coffee and a milkshake for Garret, played a few games on the machine and finally, reluctantly, left. Garret sat in the car while his dad walked Ann to her door. He watched without being obvious as they stood talking and then touched hands before she turned and hurried inside.

His dad stayed a moment staring at the closed door and then with a big sigh, turned and hopped down the steps to the car.

"Good dinner huh, Garret?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Wonder what Jean and your Mo- Carol had?"

"Do you like Miss Hairston, dad?"

Frank looked at his son. "Of course I do. We work together."

"No, I mean, do you like her, you know, like- like you did mom?" The dead silence that followed told Garret he'd made a big mistake. "I don't mean-"

"We are not having this discussion." His dad's voice was harsh and firm. "I don't like the fact that you are thinking along those lines and I don't like the idea that you are disrespecting Carol."

"I'm not, dad-"

"That's it! No more. I don't want to hear anything like that again."

Carol greeted them with a mild indifference, half listening to their celebration dinner story, before announcing that she was going out with some friends for the rest of the evening. Jean was already out somewhere and Garret heard the trailing threads of an argument as he headed upstairs to his room. The phone was filled with messages from Molly and after a few minutes of indecision, he called her back, regretting the action and cutting their conversation short

******

Ann watched as Frank climbed back into the car and he and Garret drove off. There was a sudden sense of loss, of being alone, which she was, and it washed through her leaving driftwood dreams of the wonderful evening they had shared. She locked the door and went through to the kitchen, filling a glass with cold tap water and drinking thirstily. It had all felt so natural. So right. Ann felt ashamed, wishing that she could stop her futile dreams of a life with Frank Steadman-a life outside of work.

She put the glass in the sink and went through to the bedroom, hanging up her coat on the way. The bathroom mirror seemed to scold her for her thoughts and with a hasty brushing of hair and teeth it was lights out and into bed for her usual early start.

*****

Garret couldn't believe that Molly had called so many times and left so many messages. When he realized how rude he had seemed, he called her back and told her that he and his dad had taken Miss Hairston out for a hamburger at the Dippy Diner and that they had played the arcade game at the table and had a really good time. Molly sounded anxious, just waiting for a chance to speak and when she did he had to call a time out so that she would slow down.

"I can't help it, Garret! You know what happened when we were leaving the hospital? It was just like Hector said about the people waving and the sunshine and everything. It was just like that. And what he told me about dad going somewhere with lots of love and everything? It was home, Garret! It was right here at our home!"

"I'm real happy for you, Molly."

She stopped bubbling and listened to Garret's voice. He didn't sound very happy. "Isn't it exciting though? Don't you think?"

"Sure. You bet. I guess old Hector really could read the clouds."

"That's right, Garret. And if he was right about my dad, he could be right about what he told you."

"Sure. You never know do you?"

"Garret, is everything okay?"

"Actually, no, Molly. I'll talk to you again some time." The line went dead and he almost cried for no reason.

Garret sat up in bed when he heard the front door bang. A minute of silence was followed by a loud snort and muffled giggling. He glanced at his clock and saw that it was two-thirty in the morning and someone had just come into the house. He crept from his bed to the bedroom door and peered down the hall.

There was another burst of laughter and then he heard his dad's voice shouting angrily, followed by Carol's voice sounding rude and sarcastic. Garret tiptoed down the hall and listened at the top of the stairs.

"I can come in and out whenever I want." Carol was shouting. "You're not my father!"

"He's almost old enough," another man's voice said, and Carol laughed aloud again.

"Who is this guy, Carol?"

"This is Gerry, he brought me home."

"Good. Fine. Thanks Gerry, you can buzz off now."

Garret heard the door open and some shuffling of feet.

"We're gonna have a nightcap." Carol wailed amid more shuffling.

"Quit shovin', pal."

"Out of my house. Now!"

"Carol invit-" Garret heard a distinct smack and he jumped nervously as Carol screamed at his dad.

"You hit him! You have no right to-" The door slammed shut and Frank swore aloud at his wife and told her to shut up. That she was drunk and a disgrace to his family and if she couldn't shape up to the responsibilities she accepted with marriage, then she could darn well ship out.

Garret hurried back to his room when he heard them coming up the stairs and he lay with the covers snugged under his chin, teary-eyed, listening until the arguing stopped.