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eyes as if he were sobbing in grief. Jim gave him his famous death-stare, but all he did was pout and flounce.
    Susan Silverstone said, gently, ‘I didn’t need to be told. Mothers who have lost their children have a special look about them … the saddest look that you can ever imagine.’
    â€˜Then you’ll help me? I’m sure there was somebody there when Mike went under the water.’
    â€˜I’ll take a look for you,’ Susan Silverstone reassured her. ‘If there was anything there, then believe me, I’ll know.’
    Karen came up and joined them. She pulled a face at Jim and tapped her wristwatch. ‘Come on, Jim, if we’re going to make it up the coast before twelve …’
    â€˜If I’m going to do a spirit-trace for you, it’ll have to be now,’ said Susan Silverstone. ‘I’m going to Bakersfield this afternoon, for orchard counseling.’
    â€˜
Orchard counseling?
’ asked Karen.
    â€˜Of course. Trees can get stressed too, you know, just like people. Sometimes scores of them can be seriously traumatized. You can sense it, the minute you walk into the orchard. It’s a bad, bad feeling, like there’s an electric storm brewing. It unsettles the farm workers and it can have a totally devastating effect on fruit production.’
    â€˜Now I’ve heard everything,’ said Karen. ‘My lunch is canceled because an orange grove has the heebie-jeebies.’
    â€˜I’m really sorry, Karen,’ Jim told her. ‘How about we go for dinner instead? I can book a table at the Palm.’
    â€˜Well, I’m sorry, too, Jim. Especially since this is the last day we’re going to be able to spend together.’
    â€˜Wait up a minute,’ Jim asked Jennie and Susan Silverstone. He took Karen aside, next to a wholefood stall. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I can’t just turn my back on this. Jennie asked me for help and this is the only way I know how.’
    â€˜That’s a pretty pathetic excuse for spending the rest of the day with some busty mystic in a low-cut dress.’
    â€˜What are you talking about? I didn’t even notice her dress.’
    â€˜So you’re blind as well as unreliable?’
    â€˜Look, okay, I noticed the dress but I don’t care about the dress. I care about you. I was going to wait until later to ask you this, but the reason why I wanted to take you up the coast today was to find out if you’d consider coming to Washington with me.’
    â€˜When?’
    â€˜On Wednesday, when I leave. Or maybe join me in a week or two, when you’ve had the chance to pack up your things.’
    â€˜You mean you want me to come to Washington
permanently
? To
live
with you?’
    â€˜Is that such a terrible idea?’
    â€˜Nuts?’ asked the woman behind the wholefood stall. ‘Pulses?’
    Karen laid her hand on Jim’s shoulder. ‘Jim … I’m really fond of you. I almost love you. But can you see us
living
together? I’m fanatical about neatness, you know that. My sweaters are all folded away by color. My shoes all have shoe-trees. You can call me anally retentive if you like. But you – well, all I can say is that your closet is the nearest thing I’ve ever seen to a one-man rummage sale and your sock drawer looks like the snakepit in
Indiana Jones
. And your
bathroom
. Who else do you know who keeps half a bicycle and a set of golf clubs in their
bathroom
? Apart from that, we’re so mentally different. I believe in facts and figures and empirical proof, but what do you believe in? Spirits, and demons, and weird things that nobody else can see. I like Mozart and you like Hootie and the Blowfish. I like step aerobics and you like slouching on the couch. I like brown rice and you like cheeseburgers. Jim – you make me laugh a lot. Sometimes you even inspire me. But if we tried to live together, we’d end up