Morning sun illuminated the December bluegreen Pacific Ocean; waves broke white on pale yellow sand. In the beach house bedroom, suitcases were partially unpacked, and disordered clean white sheets on a late morning unmade bed suggested the romance of Caydance and Griff's first night home.

On the kitchen sideboard, was an array of postcards. Boats in the harbor, backed by a picturesque New England village were from student coach Peggy Adams, who was spending the holidays at Martha's Vineyard with her girlfriend/partner. The image of a Mississippi Riverboat -- postmarked Memphis -- was from Sido and Tyrone, who were about to begin the finale of their trip to New Orleans. On a postcard bearing the image of a secluded beach in Marin, Jack observed that after he and Giselle's New Years sojourn in a romantic inn, they would like to meet Caydance and Griff for dinner in San Francisco. A handmade postcard of snow on Brighton Beach in Brooklyn was signed by both Yuri and Natasha.

Caydance was creating orange juice from a bowl of gifted oranges. Griff was making coffee from a familiar Peet's French Roast bag. From a stop at the grocery store on their way home to the beach house, there were bacon, eggs, English muffins, peach preserves, and sweet butter. "Home," Griff said to Caydance. "Home," she replied.