"When he's watching TV, you can just see how social he is," Solana said as they left the council room. "Oh, well." She rolled her eyes. "Let's go find Dad. He's probably talking with Nathaniel and playing golf in our uderground range."

  "Who's Nathaniel?" Dominica inquired as they walked past the computer room, where Dylan was still working.

  "He's my dad's brother," Solana answered. "He's the best golfer down here, and he's a pro, so he's gone a lot. My dad always tries to talk with him when he's home. When Nathaniel's gone, Dad tries to spend time with his kids, Martin, Mark, Annah, and Maria, every day. They love it when he comes over. Even Maria and Mark, the teenage twins, have fun. Sometimes I go with him and help care for martin, who's ten, and Annah, who's three. His wife had a baby a couple of months ago, but she died because she was already so weak, and the baby, Lauren, had a heart defect that proved to be fatal, and she only lived about twenty minutes."

  They walked on in silence until they got to the golf range. Several men were gathered there, playing a game of golf.

  "Surprise of surprises," Solana said when she looked at the score. "Uncle Nathaniel's winning." She peered around in search of her father. "He's over near hole seven. Come on."

  Dominica followed her to two men leaning on golf clubs and chatting. "Hi, Dad," Solana said to one.

  Her tall, black haired and blue eyed father turned to her. "Hello, Solana. What brings you to the land of the sport that makes you fall asleep so easily?"

  Nathaniel chuckled. "And the sport that keeps us awake with its abundant energy needs."

  "Anyway," Solana burst in, "this is the girl we rescued the other day. Her name's Dominica." She looked at Dominica.

  The two men shook Dominica's hand firmly and greeted her.

  When the greetings were over, Solana asked, "Dad, do you know where Thera is? Dominica's met everyone in our family except for her."

  "Last I knew," he answered, "she was helping our Rebekah and Scott. Their baby's due pretty soon, you know. I think she was planning on helping with lunch afterwards, too.

  The men men turned back to talking as the two girls walked away.

  "How talkative is Thera?" Dominica asked.

  "Not very," Solana replied. "Not many people try to start a conversation with her. She might add a funny comment or two to a conversation, then be quiet. More likely than not, she'll just be quiet and stay that way."

  "My mom was a quiet type," Dominica said. "Her quiet was more peaceful though. Thera's quiet sounds more...ominous."

  "I guess you could call it that," Solana answered.

  Solana led her friend to a door that said 'Scott'n'Bekah'. She knocked.

  A man who looked to be about thirty opened the door. "Hello, Solana. What brings you here?"

  "Hi, Scott," Solana greeted him. "Is Thera here?"

  "She's getting ready to leave," Scott said as he let them in. "She just finished a load of laundry for Bekah, who's feeling pretty heavy these days, and can'tt work much." He winked at Solana. "Don't worry. I've been keeping an eye on her. I know how much you want another cousin."

  "Scott, would you mind bringing me that bar of chocolate we were snacking on this morning?" came a voice from another room.

  "Sure, honey," Scott called back. He shook his head. "She's just craving chocolate right now," he told Dominica and Solana. "Aside from tea, crackers, salad, and toast, she's been living on chocolate-really." He left on his errand.

  "Mom craved vanilla ice cream when she was ecpecting Thera and me," Solana said, "but I'm a chocolate ice cream addict."

  A girl who looked to be about Solana's age, with black hair and blue eyes, appeared out of a small room. She was slim and rather short. Her entrance came unnoticed to Dominica, but Solana noticed her.