Chapter 48

"I'm certain he smiled this morning" Penny said eagerly. "Really, Joey, don't laugh, he did. His little face wrinkled up and I thought for a moment he was going to cry, but he smiled instead"

"Wind" remarked Joey caustic ally, and Penny joined in the general laughter.

Audrey took another parcel from the tree and handed it to Penny. Opening it, she found a thin, gold bracelet on the inside of which Joey had had inscribed :

'For Penny, with love'

"Oh Joey" she whispered. "It's beautiful"

'But I can't accept it' she thought. 'It must have been very expensive. I shouldn't take it'

"Please, Penny, put it on" Joey said quietly as if he had understood her thoughts. "It would give me so much pleasure"

Obediently, Penny slipped the bracelet over her hand. The gold links felt cold against the warmth of her flesh. Slowly it took her own temperature until it became part of herself and she had to feel for it to reassure herself that it was still ther