Now did seem as good a time as any, Laura thinks, though it does occur to her that maybe there was another step or two before he was ready for her to contribute something of herself to finish it's personal meaning and that there, was touching.

She moves the egg back to her lap and presses the blade top to the fleshy part of her thumb. Before any blood can drip off, she hands back the knife and sets her thumb down to leave a perfect print where Sweeney requested it.

Laura looks up. It was her turn to look nervous . "How's that?"