Coconut Grove dard-e-dil

he gave no answer to her first question, only a smile. that was all with which he would dignify it. women like her knew their charm, and knew it well; he would not say what they both understood to be true. instead, he wagged his tail gently at her compliment of the grove, and gave a shrug of her shoulders to her next question--one much more worth answering.

i am well, for the first time in a while, govinda said, his words candid. it's been a long time since i've been able to say that without lying through my teeth. it has been nice, having you and lucas around, as well as some others, here and there. he finally felt as if he had a foundation, something to build from.

what have you been up to? he asked. he didn't see her much, but he had always assumed she was doing her own thing. what was that thing, though?