Interlude

 I was sitting on the back deck this afternoon, with my book and coffee.  The woods are in full leaf now, and I would look up when I heard the buzz of a hummingbird's wings at the feeder.  I had let RiverSong come outside with me; she was laying with the dappled sun on her dappled fur.

"You're quite beautiful - do you know that?" I said to her.  Suddenly I heard it in Bob's voice.  "You're quite beautiful - do you know that?"  It was something that he said to me often.  I might be dressed up to go somewhere, or I might be out in the kayak, or streaked with dirt and sweaty from working in the garden, or just doing the dishes.   And he would say it.