"She sounds like a lovely young woman. I wish to have known her, I think."

Helen had no way of knowing that those words meant something entirely different to me and did not enlighten her at that time. But the affection and exasperation of a mother's love shone through and it made me glad to know that she had been so blessed to have known her daughter. Not all mothers were as lucky I reminded myself, for the moment feeling a twinge of regret that Melisande's actions had forever severed her from her child.

I worked my way down Helen's body, pulling a stool over with my leg so that I may sit while I worked on her feet. "You are not ticklish, are you?"