He laughs. 'No, you deserve someone wonderful. Someone with as big a heart as you. But preferably not such a big mouth.'

I give him a playful punch and he pulls me into a hug.

I can feel all the love he has to give and I pray that Sasha is going to get the benefit.

'Are you staying over?' he asks.

'No, I literally just came by for an hour. I've got to get back to LA by 6pm.'

'LA?' He grimaces. 'What are you doing there?'

'Hanging with movie stars, stylists, manicurists your kinda people. I'll send them your love.'

He smiles and looks down into his empty coffee cup.

'I'll get you another.'

'Thanks.'

As I get up he clasps my hand, keeping hold until our arms are fully extended and I have to let go.

I walk back to the kitchen in a daze, not quite believing that I've got away with confronting Ty without getting lacerated. I've got to meet this Martha woman. She certainly knows her onions.

'Are you okay?' Sasha scrambles over to me as I set the coffee cup down on the side.

'Yeah, I'm fine. He's fine,' I smile at Sasha, wondering how I'm going to sum up the conversation for her.

'What did you talk about? Did you find out-'

'Basically he likes you.' I cut to the chase.

'What? I don't think so!' Sasha fl.u.s.ters but her eyes flash pleasure and hope and excitement. 'Did he actually say that?'

I smile knowingly. 'You're going to have to be gentle with him, he's got some issues.'

'Big bad issues?' Sasha asks, looking nervous.

'I think they're get-over-able. He hasn't told me the full story. Just take it slow and let him see the real you.'

'Whoever that is,' Sasha worries.

'Well, we've got mad and brave for starters, right?'

She smiles shyly.

I take her hands. 'This is your chance, Sasha. He's as interested in discovering your personality as you are.'

'I could use an extra pair of eyes!'

I laugh, 'You can do it!' My eyes flick to the clock. 'I'm so late, I've got to go.'

Sasha squeezes me tightly. 'Oh Lara!'

'I want daily updates. Promise?'

Her eyes are misty as she pulls back: 'I couldn't have done any of this without you. I felt like a leper being such a misery but you weren't afraid to get close.'

'I'm just sorry I didn't know how you were feeling before we came out here. I wish I could have done something sooner.'

'It doesn't matter now,' Sasha says, bravely. 'I'm just so relieved to be feeling vaguely human again.'

'I guess that's what happens when you surround yourself with animals,' I wink. 'Anyway, it's Helen we should be thanking.'

'I want to thank you both,' Sasha a.s.serts. 'It's not an either-or thing.'

I smile to myself. 'No, it's not. There's enough love for everyone.'

I pour a fresh cup of coffee and hand it to her. 'He needs a top-up.'

'Are you sure?'

I nod. If those two haven't got it on by the end of the week I'll eat Ryan's rumpsteak. Raw. With extra flies!

Chapter 30.

As I drive back to LA, I dial Helen and go hands-free. (On the phone that is, not the steering wheel.) She's overdue for an update and the latest developments make for headline news.

'Poor Sasha!' she gasps, losing her usual "it's all part of the plan" cool. 'Is she okay?'

I tell her I'm convinced everything will be peachy-keen but that The California Club should be on alert, just in case.

'Gotcha,' Helen says, still sounding shaken. Thank goodness you were there.'

'It's fine. I'm going to pick up Zo from work now but if there's any more problems we'll be back at Tiger Tiger like a shot.'

'Don't you worry about that, I'll check on her. You girls just concentrate on enjoying yourselves,' Helen resumes control.

'Oh yeah, we'll be living the high life,' I mutter. That was a pretty harsh trick to play on Zo have you seen where she's staying?'

'Harsh trick or a reminder of how far she's come you decide.'

Helen stands strong in her defense of The California Club. 'So what are you gals doing tonight?' she asks, on a lighter note.

'Well, actually Joel is arranging some kind of treat. I think he feels Zo needs a little glamour to balance out the grease.'

'That's sweet. So he wasn't just a Yosemite fling?'

'I guess not.' I'm reluctant to say too much about Joel for fear of jinxing the strangely satisfying relationship we have.

'Do you think he might be a contender?' Helen queries. She always likes to know the minutiae of our love lives.

'I really don't know,' I confess, deftly changing lanes and sliding on to the exit ramp that will take me to Hollywood.

'Has he made you feel differently about Elliot?'

'Not exactly I'll never not love Elliot, it's more that he's made me feel differently about me.'

'How so?'

'Well.' I think for a moment. 'Ever since our little rendezvous, I've been feeling more confident, more independent more my own woman!' I laugh.

' That's quite a gift.'

'Isn't it?' I feel a swell of appreciation for Joel. 'He's been a real tonic.'

'And Elliot. How's our little woodchuck?'

'Troubled,' I confess. 'He's been doing some major soul-searching out there in the wild, wild wilderness but he's yet to have a moment of dazzling enlightenment.'

'He will.'

'How can you be so sure?' I want to believe it but I'm concerned that he could just end up depressed.

'He's no fool. Given enough time alone he'll open his eyes and see-'

Helen stops short.

'See what?'

'Just see. Ever since his parents died he's had his head down. He needs to lift it up and look around him. Things have changed. Maybe too much.'

'He thinks he's changed, lost his zip.'

'He hasn't lost it. He just hasn't had any use for it in a while. It'll come back.'

'Helen, you have such faith in us all!'

She laughs. 'You're my family! I'll see you right. Anyway, there's someone we've forgotten what's going on with Elise?'

'I've barely spoken to her she's always haring off to some cla.s.s, it's like she's cramming for some spiritual enlightenment exam.'

Helen chuckles. 'I knew she'd crack in the end! I just hope it's doing her some good.'

My hope involves her getting stuck on a higher plane and not being able to come down again, but I keep that to myself.

'What do you think The California Club make of how we're doing?' I ask, curious about how closely we're being monitored.

'They feel like I do,' Helen replies: 'proud of you all.'

'So everything is as it should be?' I check.

'Yes,' Helen a.s.sures me.

I sigh contentedly. I had been wondering what on earth we were putting ourselves through but speaking to Helen makes me feel as if it's all happening for a reason.

'Okay, I'm just pulling up at the diner now.'

'Give Zo a big hug for me tell her she's always a star in my eyes.'

'I will. Love you, Helen!'

I do love her. Sometimes I want to blame her for things because she's always the one in charge but deep down I know she has our best interests at heart. I can't wait for our big reunion. Just three more nights. And in the meantime, I've got a night on the tiles with Zo and the gorgeous, masterful, s.e.xy Joel.

'He's not coming.'

'What?'

'He came by about half an hour ago to apologize unfortunately he can't join us,' Zo shrugs. 'b.u.mmer, eh?'

I quickly wipe the look off devastation off my face. I don't want Zo to think she's not enough on her own.

'So, what do you feel like doing tonight?' I ask her.

'How about a movie?'

A movie? Zo's the last person I'd ever think would forego a night out in favor of chomping popcorn in the dark. Poor lamb, she must be exhausted.

'What did you have in mind?' I ask her.

'Just the latest Owen Wilson buddy flick ...' she suggests with a mischievous twinkle.

Bless her, she's doing that for me.

'If that's what you want,' I agree.

'I thought you'd be ecstatic,' she complains.

'Ecstatic?' I query. I mean, I love the guy but- Zo opens the envelope she's clutching and wafts two slips of paper in front of me. 'Tickets to the premiere! We've got half an hour to get ready!'

Suddenly I'm hyper-animated and spinning her round. 'Where? How?'