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Was it?

The door opened. “Oops,” Izzy said, making to close it again.

“No,” said Alli. “Come in for a minute.”

“Do you want to do something?” Izzy asked hopefully. “We could play cards if you like. Or… I don’t know, make some hot chocolate?”

“What’s with everyone’s obsession with making things here?” Alli shook her head. “If you want hot chocolate, just ask for some. And I’m sure there’s biscuits too, you don’t have to make your own.”

“It’s something to do with the time, I suppose,” Izzy said.

“Do you feel different here?” Alli said.

“What?”

“Do you feel different here? Like, has something changedabout you. Are you feeling some effects after all this hocus pocus and meditation?”

Izzy shrugged. “I feel more relaxed, better rested.” She laughed. “I feel smarter, but I think that’s from being surrounded by adults all day.”

Alli thought about this. It was true that she also felt better rested, sexy dreams aside, she was sleeping well. That wasn’t much of a change though. Although, now that she thought about it, she hadn’t taken an antacid in days. Her stomach seemed more at ease. Probably just because she was eating three meals a day instead of surviving on coffee.

“What about being angry?” she asked. “Do you feel less angry?”

Izzy flushed and sniffed. “Yes, obviously, of course.”

“Huh.” Alli didn’t think that she felt less angry.

She felt less tired and she felt more… more sexy, maybe. But that wasn’t quite the word she was looking for. She felt more aware of her body, perhaps. Something like that. All of these things seemed normal for someone who wasn’t working though. She had more time to think and feel things, that was all it was.

“Right,” she said. “Go on then, off you go, find yourself some hot chocolate.”

“You’re not coming?”

Alli sighed. “I’ll catch up.”

Izzy grinned and left, and Alli pulled her phone out again. Might as well get this done. Bea had really come through for her, which was surprising. For an instant she thought about Bea’s hands touching her phone, thought she could feel warmth in it. Her insides got all jumbled up at the idea of Bea’s hands.

Good lord. The faster she was out of here, the better.

She keyed in the ID for her online banking and pulled the paper Daria had given her out of her pocket. Pricey, but worth it if she got to go home.

“IT’S NOT THAT I don’t miss them, I do, but having a little time alone is quite wonderful,” Izzy was saying when Alli got to the kitchen.

“I wish I could see mine more often,” said Charles.

Eugh. Great, they were talking about their kids.

“There’s a lot to be said for being comfortable alone though,” added Julia, spraying whipped cream on top of a cup.

“I don’t know, I’ve always liked having someone else there,” Izzy said.

“Because you’re happily married,” said Charles.

“In love,” added Julia.

“There’s no better feeling,” Marcus said.

“What does it feel like then?” Alli asked.