Mary Clark: Weep No More, My Lady

Min jumped up. "If they had come forward last year, Ted might very well have been persuaded to plead guilty. Ted should be grateful to them."

"Are you grateful, Min?" Cheryl asked. "I gather the Baron did write the play. You not only married nobility, a doctor, an interior designer, but also an author. You must be thrilled-and broke."

"I married a Renaissance man," Min told her. "The Baron will resume a full schedule of operations at the clinic. Ted has promised us a loan. All will be well."

Helmut kissed her hand. Again Elizabeth was reminded of a little boy smiling up at his mother. Min sees him now for what he is, she thought. He'd be lost without her. It cost her a million dollars to find that out, but maybe she'll decide it was worth it.

"Incidentally," Scott added, "Mrs. Meehan is going to make it. We can thank Dr. von Schreiber's emergency treatment for that." Ted and Elizabeth followed him out. "Try to put it behind you," Scott told them. "I have a hunch things are going to be a lot better for you two from now on."

"They already are." Ted's voice was firm.

The noon sun was high overhead. The breeze was coming gently from the Pacific, bringing the scent of the sea. Even the azaleas that had been crushed by the patrol cars seemed to be trying to struggle back. The cypress trees, grotesque in the night, seemed familiar and comforting under the splendid sunshine.

Together Elizabeth and Ted watched Scott drive away, then turned to face each other. "It really is over," Ted said. " Elizabeth, I'm just starting to realize it. I can breathe again. I'm not going to wake up in the middle of the night and wonder about living in a cell, about losing everything in life I value. I want to get to work again. I want…" His arms went around her.

"I want you."

Go ahead, Sparrow. This time it's right. No dillydallying. Do as I tell you. You're perfectfor each other.

Elizabeth smiled up at Ted. She put her hands on his face and brought his lips to hers.

She could almost hear Leila singing again, as she had so long ago, "Weep no more, my lady…"