After reviewing all the headlines, she goes back and rereads the information Maggie has unearthed about the Baltic shops and nightclubs in London that Lia intends to visit. She thinks of the Eastern European population of London, its customs and sense of humour, the unemployment and jobs and the unspoken dreams that brought these people here. Lia will fit in well with the Russians and Poles and Balts at the clubs – in that crowd in this city, a Finn wouldn’t stand out much at all. And Lia will manage. Mari likes the change visiting the Studio has brought about in Lia and done for their friendship. Lia still is not committed to the Studio emotionally, but she doesn’t need to be. That will come in time. Mari knows how it will happen. That was why she planned carefully how and when Lia would meet each person there. Maggie and Berg, charming and safe. Lia got to know them first. Thinking of them, Mari feels a surge of joy. Her cornerstones. And Rico and Paddy, whom she allowed Lia to meet gradually – weapons she couldn’t parade around until a person was used to their presence.
