Lexie was born in Malta. Her Dad dreamed of emigrating to North America. When Lexie -her Dad insisted on naming his daughter Lexus because that was the car he vowed to own some day- was ten-years-old, her Dad's dream and vow came to pass.

I met Lexie about ten years after that; we worked out at the same fitness center for a brief period. We dated a couple of times. Nice gal, lovely person, slim, trim and pretty, but fireworks remained unlit, no sparklers even, it happens.

About a year later, by coincidence, Lexie moved into the high-rise building where I lived.

We'd chat on the elevator and in the laundry room on occasion.

On one of those occasions, just prior to my trip to Barbados, I asked Lexie to do me a solid and collect my newspapers while I was away... I don't like cancelling delivery, it usually gets screwed up and besides, somebody knows the residence is vacant; yeah, I'm a tad paranoid.

Lexie said, "No worries."