Eventually, the sobs began to subside. When Piers straightened from his crouch, Lucio said, I should have been here for you and Sylvie. I beg your forgiveness for my selfishness.

Piers nodded gently and wiped his eyes with his shirtsleeve. Sorry for my outburst. The grief came out of nowhere and I could not fight it. It happens that way sometimes.

Piers raised his head and leveled his gaze at Lucio. Maybe the diffuse light of China Town was playing games with him, but Lucio could have sworn he saw peace in his friend's face. Piers looked almost serene. I know you well, Lucky. And I know you would've been here if you were able, he said.

Ohmigod! They're here!

Ginger swiveled her head to where Roxanne had pointed, past the palm trees and toward the northeast corner of Dolores Park. Sure enough, Josie and Genghis were heading up the sidewalk. Ginger got a lump in her throat at the sight of her smiling friend and her goofy Labradoodle.

It was awfully good to see her home safe.

Genghis arrived first. He bounded up the hill, tongue and ears flying, his dark brown eyes lit up with excitement. Ginger laughed, relieved to see that five months after Genghis's disastrous grooming, his coat had grown back to its normal disheveled and wild state.

HeatherLynn began wiggling in Ginger's arms, demanding to be put down. The instant the little bichon's paws hit the grass, she ran off toward her long-lost friend. In dog years, a six-week absence must feel like full-scale abandonment, Ginger decided, and HeatherLynn was beside herself with delight.

Josie! Up here! Bea jumped up and down in her Reeboks as she waved.

Ginger watched Josie jog up the hill, her face as happy as her dog's. When she reached them, they fell into each other in a raucous group hug. They laughed and cried and screeched with joy. Eventually, Ginger held Josie out at arm's length so they could get a good look at her.

Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes sparkled and her gorgeous hair fell in soft spiral curls just below her shoulders. She looked fit and hardy. Relaxed. In love.

Yes, she was glowing.

So what if it was a cliche to say that a woman could be so in love that she glowed? The truth was the truth, and in Josie's case, there was no other way to put it. Josephine Sheehan had been glowing since the day she met Rick Rousseau. She'd glowed on her wedding day. She was glowing now.

Ginger kissed her glowing cheek. Was the North Pole completely wonderful? she asked.

Are you exhausted from the trip? Roxie wanted to know.

So, are you pregnant yet? Bea seemed shocked that her question would be met with bug-eyed stares of disbelief. I have money riding on this, you know.

A triplet of car-horn beeps caused the group to turn toward the street. Rick drove by, waving and blowing kisses to the group. Teeny will be back in an hour, baby! he shouted out.

Okay, Rick! Josie returned his kiss and waved. When the newlywed turned back toward her friends, a distracted smile played on her face.

Ginger sighed, wondering how it would feel to be so outrageously happy, so delirious with love.

He drove you into the city? Roxie asked.

Yeah. He's going to bring Genghis and me into town early on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays so we can keep our usual walking schedule. Isn't that thoughtful of him?

Bea lifted an eyebrow. That's a damned fine man you got there, Joze.

She giggled. Yeah. I know. He's incredible.

Huh. Take a look at that, would you? Roxanne pointed toward Lilith and Genghis. Everyone went still, afraid to breathe or move or do anything that might upset the delicate balance at work.

Genghis licked Lilith's face in greeting, while Martina and HeatherLynn stood nearby as witnesses. Lilith didn't growl. She didn't snarl. She wasn't frothing at the mouth. Instead, she was happily licking Genghis in return, as much as was possible through her muzzle. Lilith was wagging her tail! These were all new developments.

Holy shit, Bea whispered. I thought she hated anything with a penisyou know, as a matter of principle.

Shush! Ginger hissed.

This is incredible, Josie said. Did I miss something with Lilith while I was gone? Did you start those behavior classes with Eli Gallagher?

Roxanne's eyes flashed. No! Why? Did Rick say something about what happened with Eli and me?

Josie squinted. Uh, no. I was just wondering about the change in Lilith's you know personality.

Bea leaned close to Josie for effect. You wouldn't know this, of course, seeing that you were kind of busy getting married and all, Bea said, but Ginger and Roxie made a couple of new friends at your wedding.

Josie's eyes went big.

Roxie met Eli and Ginger met Rico Suave, Bea said, her shoulders bouncing as she giggled.

Immediately, heat spread through Ginger's body. It felt as if she'd caught fire from the inside out. Of course, part of it was because she was pissed at Bea for bringing up Lucio the instant Josie got home. But most of it was just her usual responsewhenever she thought of him, heard his name, or pictured him in her mind, she heated up. She couldn't control it. The man lit a flame in her.

No kidding, Josie said, smiling kindly. She turned to Roxie. So what happened between you and Eli? Rick certainly didn't mention it.

Roxie interrupted Lilith's breakthrough moment with a jerk on her leash. Forget it. Let's walk, okay? You only have an hour, right?

Hey, wait. Josie placed her hand on Roxie's tensed-up forearm. Are you okay? What's wrong?

It's nothing, she said, shaking her head.

Hey, Rox, seriously, I was just teasing. Bea added her hand to Roxanne's arm. I didn't know something had really happened between you two.

Ginger stayed back, listening. She had been readying herself to field questions from her friends about Lucio and his trip to the sexual buffet, but instead, Roxanne was on the hot seat. Ginger didn't even know Roxanne had something to get hot about.

I asked him to join me for lunch a couple weeks ago, Roxie said. His answer was no.

What! Ginger was shocked at the sound of her own outburst. I mean, really? You asked him out?

Roxanne nodded. Yeah. It was stupid of me. He just seemed really nice and I thought I'd try.

Josie frowned. He really turned you down?

That doesn't make any sense at all, Bea said, leaning back in bewilderment. I saw the way he looked at you during the ceremonyhe was the dog and you were the bone.

Roxie offered a weak smile. Yeah, well, that's what I thought, too. But we were both wrong, obviously.

Ginger frowned; then, as if on autopilot, she tapped her fingertips against her brow creases. God, how she wished she could stop doing that! How could she fully embrace her mature beauty if one of her hands was always busy patting and slapping at her wrinkles?

Was it because of your Web site? Ginger asked.

Surprisingly, no, Roxie said with a laugh. He thought that was kind of amusing.

Then what? Bea asked. Is he in a relationship?

You could say that.

Josie laughed. Stop being so cryptic, Rox! Why did Eli turn you down?

Well, at least he was honest about it, she said. He told me he planned to be in California for only about a year. He said he was here to deal with some unfinished business with his father and he wouldn't have time to date.

Bea snorted. Sounds like a load of bullshit to me.

A sudden burst of barking and growling made everyone jump. Roxanne pulled a now-snarling Lilith off Genghis, who slinked away, wild-eyed from the sting of betrayal.

I guess she'd had enough of being nice, Roxanne said with a sigh. Can't say I blame her.

The women continued their walk. Ginger broke the news to Josie that the Herald had fired her from her editor post the week before. Josie asked Ginger if she was okay, and Ginger assured her that yes, she was. In a soft whisper, Josie admitted she'd been fired, as well. The certified letter had been waiting for her when she picked up her mail from the post office.