Paul called on Saturday to say how good a time he had at The Marine Room the night before. He was complimentary of the children, their behaviour, there knowledge and conversation, and their maturity. He invited me to a local wine bar the following Wednesday; which I gladly accepted.

The seventh week was not unlike most of the rest. Lots of sun and fun at the beach, and rest on Saturday and Sunday at Casa Amor. I was interested in finding some free things to do as we had been burning thru cash at a rapid pace, Thankfully, Paul had picked up the dinner tab on Friday evening; which with the fine wine, was north of $400.

La Jolla Cove was a suggestion that he made Saturday while we were speaking and getting to know one another. He agreed to take the three of us there for a short visit on Wednesday afternoon, and then he and I would take the kids back to Casa Amor and head to the wine bar for a nite cap.

It was basically a cove near the water, surrounded by cliffs and protected as a marine reserve. It is popular with the locals, cliff jumpers and scuba divers. We decided to don our own scuba diving gear for some exercise and to view the great wide open that nature has to offer. That afternoon, I saw some of the most beautiful fish in all the sea. Paul had once again "struck a cord" with my children.

My thoughts again drifted to Brady and I would confide in Paul that evening about my marriage, my battle with depression, my running away and my suicide attempt; among other things. The kids had seen the best and the worst of me, and Paul would either embrace this side of me or run for the hills, as they say.

Surprisingly, he understood completely. He had dated women who battled with depression; and while those relationships did not pan out, I believe he could see the growth and development in me as a person despite the fact that Brady was at the forefront of my mind all to often, it seemed; or was it?

Finch Bistro and Wine Bar is where we would end up for a bottle or two. Paul was an experienced drinker, and despite the fact that he had three glasses to my five, we would be able to travel safely as we spent nearly four hours talking that evening. We talked about Brady and he mentioned some of the failed relationships that he had endured over the years,

At his age, I wondered why he was still single. What had kept him from marrying? I decided to write home to mother...