Yoga was a form of exercise and meditation that Nola adopted while she was traveling the world with the family. Grown out of Stone Age Shamanism over 5000 years ago, it was practiced by many of the local people they encountered, and Nola naturally took to it and learned to appreciate its benefits to mind, body and spirit. Coincidentally enough, while on one of their last digs in India before settling in California, Quint and Nola were lucky enough to be part of a team that unearthed stone seals depicting figures in yoga poses. Nola found it not to be coincidence, but kismet, and that the practice would always help to keep her healthy and happy. While traveling, she enjoyed the added benefit of the way yoga helped to bridge the language barriers that so often existed. And being capable of all but contorting herself into a pretzel, long after the bulk of their travels ceased, she had fun amazing friends and family with her flexibility. She knew the trip to Borneo would be rigorous, and it would be essential for her to be back in her usual fit shape. Through religiously doing her daily routines and watching her carb intake, Nola had been able to drop all but the last ten pounds of her baby weight.

The end of January was quickly approaching. The length of the trip had changed significantly in the last couple of weeks. They would go to Borneo for almost a year, but fortunately would have plenty of time to go home for visits. Anastasia would come for the first five months of the assignment and then return to Oxford to finish up the final requirements for her PhD. AJ was back in California, preparing for graduate school to start. Both Quint and Nola were working frantically to get all details in order before leaving for such an extended period of time. Nola knew, however, that the hectic pace would be worth it, as they would be getting away from the cold snap gripping Springfield and escaping to the tropics. She had planned for much of their free time to include scuba diving, sailing and visiting with the orangutans.

Ava seemed young to be taking such a long flight, but she was a very docile baby. Everything considering, she slept through much of the night. Her pediatrician assured Nola and Quint that the baby would handle the long flight well. It would take three flight segments to get to Borneo. They planed to first fly to Los Angeles for the day. After Los Angeles, they would fly the long stretch directly to Singapore, almost eighteen hours. Before finally connecting on a relatively short flight into Kota Kinabalu, KK as the locals called it, several of the scientists working on the Borneo project had arranged to spend the night socializing and dining in Singapore. They also planned to connect there with Anastasia.

The group organizing the project made preparations for all the scientists and families to stay at an exclusive lodge in Sabah's Danum Valley. Tourists also visited this lodge, but a large area was dedicated for scientists. Nola had made friends over the phone with one of the coordinators on the project who was able to assist her in getting names and references of several experienced nannies in the area, as well as finding an acceptable pediatrician for the baby and endocrinologist for herself. Dieting, caring for an infant, traveling halfway around the world and hot flashes were a lot to handle all at once, even for Nola, so she had to make sure all her ducks were in order. She started up some email correspondence with a few of the other women on the project, both scientists and wives, and she hoped that she could strike up a friendship with a few of them. Luckily having grown children and a baby helped her to connect with both the older and the younger women, even if the older women thought Nola was insane to make a second go-round with children, when her first children were grown and in college.

On a semi-regular basis, Nola had been corresponding with a wife of one of the geologists assigned to the project. Timo and Reetta Nieminen were a young couple from Finland who would be bringing along two small children, a four year old daughter, Eveliina and a one year old son, Elias. Reetta was only twenty eight years old, but she seemed like a lot of fun, and Nola thought they would hit it off.

Quint and Nola would be working at an ancient Kadazandusun burial site. The Kadazandusun were indigenous natives and descendants of Austronesian ancestry who made up a large part of the population of Sabah.

Quint was working in his study and lab while Nola finished up her daily exercise routine. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and prepared to take a shower. Nola reacted to the sound of the baby’s cries echoing down the hallway. Carrying Ava, Olivia ran into the master bedroom in a panic.

"Aunt Nola, little Ava won't stop crying. I checked her diaper, and she didn't want to eat. I don't know what to do."

"She's been fussy all day, Livvie," Nola calmly explained. "I'm sure you didn’t do anything wrong." Nola took the fretting baby from Olivia, and she promptly quieted down.

"Now why did she do that?"

Nola cradled the baby and whispered in a calming voice, "She just wanted her mama."

"Awww, she's so sweet. Do you like the dress I put her in?"

Nola continued to coddle Ava, "It's adorable. You're going to spoil her."

"I want to spend as much time as I can with her, before you all leave."

"It's very helpful that you were able to spend the weekend with us."

"I can't wait until her hair is long enough, so I can put it in nice styles."

"By the time we get back, it probably will be," Nola wound Ava's blonde curls around her finger.

"What kind of spooky things are you and Uncle Quint going to do in Burma?"

"We're not going to Burma. We're going to Sabah which is part of the island of Borneo."

"I'm terrible at geography," Olivia whined.

"I was too, until I started traveling to the places, now I love looking at maps."

Olivia countenance remained unconvinced.

"And it isn't going to be spooky. We're researching the native cultures of the area."

"I thought is was at some burial ground."

"It is."

"Well, that's what I call spooky, Aunt Nola."

"Maybe a little, but the weather is gorgeous and warm there, and we’ll get to scuba dive and hike in the rainforest."

"Scuba diving, I know how you like that! I always loved that story about scuba diving with Uncle Quint around St. Croix."

"Yeah, those were some special times."

"It was the first time you lip locked, right?"

Nola laughed, "Yeah, it was."

Olivia swooned, "I hope some day I have the kind of romantic and exciting love story like you and Uncle Quint have."

Nola put the sleeping baby in her bassinet. "Oh, you will, just give it time."

"I hope you're right. Although, I could do without that jerk, Silas Crocker."

"You and me both," Nola chimed in. Nola looked lovingly down at the baby.

"Aunt Nola, can you tell me the story about St. Croix again?"

"Well, since you’re twisting my arm, I guess I can, Livvie."

Nola and Olivia sat down on the bed. Nola loved to tell this story to anyone who would listen, and no one was a better listener than her young, idealistic niece, Olivia. "Let's see, it was over twenty three years ago. I had never been to such a beautiful place before. Actually I had never even gotten on a airplane until I met Quinton."

"Call him Mr. McCord for the drama of the story."

"Okay," Nola giggled. "Anyway, before we left on the adventure, Mr. McCord had been able to pinpoint the approximate location where this Phoenician barge went down hundreds of years earlier. This barge carried the map with the location of the Temple of Gold that he had been searching for. So I learned how to snorkel, and then, almost immediately, I was ready to learn to scuba dive, so we could go down and look for the map. Oh, I loved it. It was so gorgeous down there. And it was so romantic embarking on this amazing adventure with this wonderful man that I had just the hugest crush in the world on."

"Did you think he was a hottie?"

"I don’t think anyone said ‘hottie’ back then, but oh yeah, he was so handsome; is so handsome. We flirted like mad. I was so infatuated with his good looks, blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. But it was that smile of his, that crooked half smile that he does, that just melted me. Oh, and the way he would say Nola. The way he said my name, it just came all the way up from his gut and was so deep and elegant sounding."

"Wow!"

"His face was so chiseled, the adorable cleft of his chin, so dreamy. Yes, he was definitely a ‘hottie.’ Life was very complicated back then, and he was kind of shy and reserved, very polite and gentlemanly. It took so long for us to finally kiss. He almost kissed me on so many occasions, but then someone, anyone, with the most awful timing in the entire world would barge in and interrupt us. And I will never understand why we would not just pick up where we left off, but I suppose it was partially that the first kiss needed to be magical and spontaneous."

"I can understand that. But, jeez, I think I would have told that person to get lost and then pick up where we left off."

"It's hard to explain why that wouldn’t have worked back then. God, I wanted that kiss so badly. I knew it would give me tingles right down to my toes. I mean, he did this thing where he would kind of gently stroke my chin, and he would get this serious look on his face and start to move in . .and then BAM . .someone walked in. It was making me crazy."

When Nola described the ill-timed interruptions, Olivia shrieked with exasperation.

"All my boyfriends before had not been like him at all. Mr. McCord was just so romantic. He was so mature and quiet . .and that was just so sexy. I had no idea what I was missing with those other boyfriends."

"So get back to St. Croix."

"I really hoped something would happen between us on that trip. I hoped that being away from the house and from Mrs. Renfield and Fritz that he could finally relax and he could finally finally kiss me." Nola nostalgically sighed. "You know, I have always been very curious, and I really wanted to impress him, and be the one that found the map. I figured he would be so grateful if I found it that who knows what would happen."

"I would have swam off on my own too."

"I thought I saw something off in this one area of the reef, but it was kind of in a cave. Against his advice, I held back as he swam on and went to check out the area. It was just too tight for me to pass through with my scuba gear, and I got stuck. I was really in trouble until he came back for me and rescued me. It was really stupid that I did that."

"You must have been so frightened?"

"Oh, I most certainly was. He saved my life. On my own, I don’t think I could have gotten out of there alive."

"So scary, but so romantic," Olivia gushed.

"I know. We struggled to the surface of the water and then to the beach. He pulled me onto the shore. And I just remember collapsing on the beach and crying."

"Oh no, Aunt Nola."

"He was so sweet and loving," Nola recalled, almost reliving the exact moment. "He told me how important I was to him, and I was so scared about what happened that I don’t think, at first, I completely absorbed the fact that he was kissing my forehead and cheeks. He was trying to calm me down, and he was so scared too. I finally looked up at him, and I saw that look in his eyes. I felt so safe and loved. And that is when he did it. He finally did it. We kissed, at first gently and hesitantly, and then we responded to each other, making up for all those missed kisses. Tingles definitely right down to my toes, amazing!! Afterwards he kept kissing me and telling me how precious I was to him."

"Aunt Nola, I have goose bumps. That’s so amazing. You’re sooo lucky."

"I know," Nola sighed, completely swept away by the story and remembering every detail of that kiss and how it made her feel and how he must have felt.

"Was it a frencher?" Olivia tittered.

"What do you think? I told you it was an amazing kiss."

"You’re so cool. You’re my idol. I want to be just like you when I grow up."

"Livvie, I think you’re a lot like me already," Nola smiled.

"Everyone always says that," Olivia exclaimed with excited curiosity.

"Nora might look like me, but I was just like you when I was your age."

"Well, you know, I take that as a huge compliment. All the kids always loved you the most."

When Olivia had gone home for the weekend, and Quint was busy in his lab preparing for the trip, Nola spent some time alone with Ava. When Quint said that gazing at Ava felt like being back twenty years before looking at AJ or Anastasia, Nola knew exactly what he meant. Although, little Ava barely resembled her siblings, AJ and Anastasia, when they were babies; both older children had brown hair and eyes. Her hair was coming in golden blonde, and her blue eyes were bright and clear. Nola took her baby daughter in her arms and relaxed in a comfortable chair.

"Do you know how much I love you?" Nola whispered. "Your daddy and I waited so long for you. It was terrible to lose your big sister, Beatrice, but we’re so happy to have you with us now, such a surprise, but nothing could be better."

Nola kissed and fawned over the cooing baby.

Totally engrossed in the baby, Nola continued, "You have your big sister, Anastasia, and she is engaged to this wonderful man that she loves very much. And you have a big brother, Anthony James, and he is so protective of you and promised to look after you always. You’re going to be so proud of both of them" Nola kissed the baby’s little hands. "And your daddy, he’s the most wonderful man in the entire world."

Entering the master bedroom, Quint stopped short, when he heard Nola quietly speaking to their baby daughter. He could see how intently Nola was speaking to Ava and didn’t want to disturb their moment, nor could he walk away from the tender sight.

"We love each other so much, and we love you so much. You’re a very lucky little girl to have two parents that love each other so much. Not a lot of children have that anymore. And he is such a good and caring husband, and he adores all you kids. He’s a very special man, and I feel so fortunate to have found him."

Quint cleared his throat to get Nola’s attention. She placidly looked up at him.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said.

"Did you hear what I was telling Ava?"

"I heard every word," he affected his familiar half grin. "And I’m here to confirm, in case she has any doubt, just how much I adore her beautiful mother."

"Aww!"

Quint approached Nola, "You’re the most wonderful mother and an equally perfect wife."

"I don’t know about perfect."

"You are to me." Quint kissed Nola and took the baby.

"Did you get everything together for the trip that you wanted to?"

"I think so. This is going to be a fascinating project. I’m going to miss this old house, but I can’t wait to get started. I can’t tell you how excited I am that Stacey is coming, and that we’ll be able to work with her for the first time as a trained archaeologist."

"You’re awfully proud of our girl, aren’t you?"

"Oh Nola, our daughter is an amazing, young woman. I couldn’t possibly be more proud of her. And this little angel, I would do anything for her, and I’m going to take the best care of myself that I possibly can, so that I’m here as long as possible for her."

Nola was worried that Effie would feel lonely staying alone at the house. Effie insisted that she loved the house, had made enough friendships, and that her son was planning on visiting several times during their absence.

"Nola, don’t you worry about me. The year will go fast, and I know that you and Quinton will be back for visits. I’ll be fine. There is plenty to keep me busy here."

"Are you sure? Because if you want to go back to London, I’m okay with that. I feel bad that we took you away from your home, and now we’re leaving for an extended period of time."

"Please, don’t feel bad. I like my time alone, and I love this house, and I want to keep it going for you while you’re away."

"Okay, but it anything changes, and you want to go back to London, just let us know. Quinton and I will get you a nice flat in London. You have done so much for us, and we would do anything for you."

"You have both been way too generous already. My mind is set, Nola."

Tony and his family came to Springfield to see off Quint, Nola and Ava. Bea threw them a little party at the boarding house. As expected, Olivia and Nora monopolized Ava while the adults socialized.

"Mom, you went way overboard with this party," Nola insisted. "I don’t want you overdoing it."

"Don’t worry, I still have some life left in me, dear."

"I’m not saying you don’t, Mom. But you really don’t need to do all this."

"I love it, and besides, the girls helped with a lot of the preparations. Right girls?"

Barely taking their eyes off their baby cousin, they both chirped, "Right, Grandma."

"Olivia has down my famous Irish Stew recipe, and Nora baked the homemade bread."

"I made the cake," Annabelle added.

"See honey, so we all chipped in to make this a nice party for you and Quinton."

"Mom, we appreciate it," Quint commented.

"Yes, we do," Nola concurred.

"So Nol, don’t you go get yourself into any trouble out in Borneo," Tony joked.

"And what is that supposed to mean, Tony?"

"Just that I know how you are, and I know how you like to get into things that you have no business in. I’m not up for flying twenty four hours straight to help Quint get you out of any messes."

Nola prodded, "Quinton, are you going to let him stand there and say those things about your wife?"

"I’m staying out of this little family tiff."

Nola continued to tease, "Oh, some loyalty. Twenty two years of marriage, and this is the loyalty I get!"

"Well, dear, there certainly have been ‘messes’ as Tony so appropriately called them."

"So now, I’m getting ganged up on. Don’t either of you worry, I think I’m a little more careful now."

"You better be, sis, I don’t want you breaking a hip or something."

"Oh, you have no room to talk," Nola blurted out with a laugh. "Looks like at least a hundred grey hairs popped up for every one you plucked."

"I’m not that grey," Tony insisted. "At least I have my hair."

"That’s true," Nola conceded.

"I think my husband’s grey is sexy," Annabelle chimed in.

"Honey, do you mind my grey hairs?" Quint inquired.

"Oh no, it makes you look so distinguished and handsome," Nola gushed. "Besides, you can barely see them in the blonde."

"Oh, so your husband is distinguished and handsome, but I get criticized for being old," Tony playfully confronted his sister.

"Basically . . .yes!! And please remember that you were the one who first made the little broken hip comment."

"True, true," Tony admitted

"Now, I think of you all as kids," Bea remarked.

"I just love to give my baby sister a hard time. I’m really going to miss you while you’re away."

"Aww, Tony," Nola hugged her brother. "I’m going to miss you too. You’ll always be my favorite."

"I’ll always worry about you, Nol. Ever since we lost Dad, I felt that I had to watch over you and the family."

"You’re the best big brother ever, Tony."

"But I feel so much better knowing that you are with Quint. I never could have hoped for a better man for you."

"Thanks, Tony. That confidence has always meant a lot to me," Quint sincerely interjected.

"Now you two be careful out there. And take care of my new little niece. We’ll keep everything going at home, and just like always we’ll be here when you return."

Everyone continued to reminisce, chat, and celebrate, then said their goodbyes to Quint, Nola and baby Ava. The next day the Chamberlain family flew to Los Angeles for the first leg of their trek to Borneo. They spent the day with Gracie who was elated over the baby. For dinner, they went with AJ and Charlotte to a favorite sushi hot spot in Santa Monica. Gracie and her daughter Lisa had generously offered to stay at the hotel and watch the baby, so that everyone could enjoy a relaxed dinner out. Nola and Gracie both suspected that Lisa and her brother would spend most of the time in the heated, beach front pool, but she appreciated the offer nonetheless.

The table in front of them was covered with sushi, sashimi and assorted cut handrolls. With a flourish, Nola poured the hot sake. Everyone clinked their cups together, toasted to Borneo, and started to drink and attack the varied fish selections.

"Boy, did I miss sushi when I was pregnant," Nola remarked, as she grabbed with her chopsticks for a fleshy piece of yellowtail. "Not that there is anyplace decent to get sushi in Springfield."

"Nola, do you remember the first time we took the kids for sushi, and AJ got sick?"

"Oh, I sure do. Charlotte, we were actually in Japan, and this particular place had world class quality, fresh fish, and well, since we’re all eating I won’t go into details, but I think our AJ was being just a little dramatic."

"Nola, wasn’t it on the Hawaii trip?"

"No, it was definitely that time we were in Osaka."

Quint nodded, acknowledging that Nola was correct.

"I was just a kid then. I didn’t know what was good. And maybe you could have started me on some California rolls before diving into the uni."

"California rolls are for wimps," Nola quipped, claiming a sweet piece of uni sushi for herself.

"You eat sushi a couple times per week now," Charlotte noted. "I can’t imagine there was ever a time you didn’t like it."

"Is it warm in here?" Nola queried, feeling suddenly overheated, fanning herself.

"I’m actually . . ." Charlotte began before Quint interrupted her.

"Yes, dear, it is, and you should watch out for that wasabi," Quint lovingly warned.

"I love the wasabi," Nola remarked, mashing more of the green paste into her dish of low sodium soy sauce.

AJ discreetly wrapped Charlotte’s sweater around her shoulders. The waitress came with another large pitcher of hot sake and refilled all the empty cups.

As Nola went to sip more of the sake, Quint tenderly put his hand over her hand, "Nola, dear, I don’t mean to be a bother, but are you sure about all the sake with the baby and everything?"

"You’re so thoughtful to remind me, but don’t worry, sweetheart, I knew I was going to drink and took care of all the arrangements." She assured her husband, "It’s fine."

"Well in that case, fill ‘er up," Quint festively announced.

AJ saluted his father with his bottle of Sapporo, "That’s the spirit, Dad."

Nola leaned over the table, "AJ, isn’t that woman sitting over there on that TV show?"

AJ looked in the direction that his mother glanced, "Yeah, that’s Jennifer Aniston. She used to be on Friends. She comes here a lot. She came here with Brad Pitt, until they called it quits."

"Pretty girl," Nola remarked. "Wonder who the tattooed guy is? So anyway, how is my dream house?"

"It’s great, Mom. And the surfing has been awesome. You would love it."

"Don’t remind me, I’m totally jealous. I would love to do some surfing. Maybe in Borneo?"

"Now Nola, I love you, but there’s no way I’m getting out on a surf board again."

AJ explained to Charlotte, "The last time Dad tried to surf, well, it was not a pretty sight."

"Mrs. Chamberlain, you really know how to surf?"

"Oh, I love it, but the waves are not so great in Springfield," Nola sarcastically quipped, "so I don’t know if I’m in shape to do it."

With the alcohol starting to affect him, Quint remarked between bites of succulent toro and quick sips of sake, "Oh, you’re in shape."

"Oh no," AJ sighed. "Char, there is something I never told you about my mom and dad . . ."

"Oh Quinton, that’s so sweet of you to say that I’m in shape." Nola provocatively slurred, "Do you like my shape?"

"Oh yes, my love," Quint responded with an equally suggestive tone.

AJ tried to get his parents’ attention, "Mom, Dad, Hello!!"

Nola took another swig of the warm beverage and scooted her chair closer to Quint, "Do you know how handsome you are?" She danced her fingers through Quint’s hair.

"Not nearly as much as you are enchanting," he stroked her chin with his fingertip, "with those hypnotizing big, brown pools . ."

"They do this all the time," AJ whispered to Charlotte who was visibly amused.

"I think it’s cute. All my dad does with his various wives is send them alimony checks."

Until almost the entire table full of fish was gone, they ate, drank, laughed, spotted celebrities and flirted. Before returning with Quint to the hotel, Nola tearfully said goodbye to her son. While Ava slept inside and her children, Lisa and Michael, watched DVDs, Gracie sat out on the balcony, enjoying the cool, evening breeze off the Pacific. Quint dutifully checked on Ava, and Nola joined her friend outside.

"Gracie, it’s freezing out here."

"Not to me, I just love it. Did you have a nice dinner?"

"It was delicious and we spotted a few celebrities."

"Don’t hold out on me. Who did you see?"

"Jennifer Aniston and then later Nicholas Cage showed up."

"Good ones." Gracie asked, "Was it hard to say goodbye to AJ?"

"Yeah, it was, but he’s doing so well, and I really like Charlotte. I don’t think she’s putting any pressure on him. Quint’s glad AJ’s back in school. He’ll be fine."

"I still have a hard time thinking of AJ and Stacey as all grown up."

"You and me both," Nola agreed. "Did Ava give you a hard time?"

"No, she was perfect. What a doll!"

"I know, I hope she’s okay on that flight tomorrow. Even for her, that’s a lot to ask."

"Now, Nola, don’t you get so carried away out there that you forget to email me."

"I won’t forget, Gracie. You’ll always be my best friend."

"I’m going to miss you, Nola," Gracie cried. "Back in the day when you went to interview with Mr. McCord for that job, would you have believed that you would be married to him all these years later, and we would be here now, at Shutters on the Beach, both of us almost . . .gasp . . . fifty, and you with a brand new baby, going off on an adventure, thousands of miles away?"

"Never, Gracie! Never in my wildest dreams."