The sun rose over the green rolling hills of Northeastern Virginia. Dew glistened upon the swards of grass, cresting and falling like ocean waves in the gentle breeze. Birds sang a joyful Spring-like aire.

Angela, her nose full of the smell of freshly cut wheat grass and clean linen sheets, turned over and stretched in the huge bed as she awoke. Through the casement window, a light wind brushed her face. She lay in repose.

The past twenty-three days had been an exercise in recuperative powers. Angela had not felt this good since... well, she had no memory of ever feeling this good so early in the morning. On second thought, that night with Nigel had led to a delightful morning. But that was worlds away from her now... Or, was it?

That last night with Nigel was unforgettable, but there was something else the following morning; something she remembered now as if it was yesterday.

She had slipped out of bed, careful not to stir Nigel's sleeping form, as the first rays of sunlight came through the bay window of his beach cottage in New Hampshire. She moved silently to the adjoining bathroom to wash the taste of last night's champagne and Peking Duck from her mouth. Quietly closing the door behind her, she reached for her toothbrush in the jar by the sink and scrubbed her teeth.

Then it hit her.

It was the Crest "Blue Sparkle" Gel. The saccharine taste of unnaturally colored bubblegum flew over her tongue like hot chili peppers after a chocolate ice cream sundae.

Nigel was hiding something from her.