Bed & Breakfast Next to the Pink Roses Hotel

"Oh."

"Geneva."

"Oh!!!"

"Yes, I know. I wake up in the morning and I'm positive that I'm going to be hearing that name for one reason or other."

"Bu, bu," Kathy was stammering now. "But how can that be? They're hours away from each other!"

"She stayed in the city for a couple of days, solving things out for her brother and cousin, and it seems they met, went out to dinner two or three times, exchanged phone numbers… And at present they're benefitting from the new technologies."

"And does he agree with the way she and her family are handling matters? After all, he's your friend."

"That's why he has given me an insight into her reasons."

According to Tom, when Geneva had visited Mrs. Sloan's editor, Annabella Breslin, with reference to her inheritance - her aunt's copyright-, the latter had been surprised to hear what the writer's wealth amounted to. She had been Mrs. Sloan's editor for a long time and so was well aware of her sales. She also knew that the lady was no spendthrift. Mary Anne should have had much more money or properties at the moment of her death than she'd actually had, which automatically cast a shadow over Jesse.

"And incidentally me," concluded Kathy.

"It explains her distrustful behavior the other day."

Kathy took some moments to reflect on this new and important piece of information. Suddenly, Geneva´s inexplicable change of attitude didn't seem so self-seeking.

"It wasn't a stratagem - they truly believe we are swindlers." She fixed her eyes on him, thoughtful.

"I wish we'd known each other long enough to rule out any doubts. But I am conscious that we haven't," Jesse said calmly.

They were in his room - in his suite. Mac was lying on the floor next to Kathy's feet.

"Why did you have to say that you loved me? It was unnecessary and way too soon."

He tried to grasp all the nuances of her question in order to provide the most complete answer.

"You are so transparent. Your eyes tell everything. I didn't think there was any need to hide my feelings or ration them. I'd never said I love you to anyone else. It was too big a phrase. But with you, it was different. I'd never felt so confident before."

"You barely knew me."

"I know. But that didn't stop you from loving me either."