She had dim recollections of her father playing with her, pretending to be a bear and growling at her from behind the sofa.

And then he would seize and hug her and they would both laugh, while he tossed her into the air and caught her.

He had looked so big and handsome.

All through her childhood there had been the desire to recreate those days, to spring into the air and catch her arms about his neck.

She could have loved him dearly if he had only let her.