It was a pleasant day, warm and sunny without being unpleasant enough to scorch Vanessa's delicate skin. She had found a secluded spot on the beach and set Lari down on the sand. At once Lari began scooping sand into mounds, decorating the mounds with shells and pebbles, playing. She was even smiling, her blue eyes shining and sunlight glinting off her pale gold curls. 9 month old Lari was Vanessa's pride and joy, in all the world all they had now was each other. Lari giggled and Vanessa's eyes welled up with tears, it was the first time she had heard her laugh in much too long. She settled herself on the sand next to Lari, stroked her curls, kissed her cheek and examined a pretty shell that was held out to her by a tiny hand. Vanessa brushed her red hair right back from her face, no one was here, it didn't matter about the scar, just her and Lari on a perfect day. Perhaps soon she would teach Lari how to swim. She smiled and picked up a swirly shell, which she added to Lari's mound of sand, Lari giggled again and tugged Vanessa forward by her red hair to plant a rather sticky baby kiss on her face.