She wondered why he wasn’t working the crowd, like all the other politicians would have been doing.Aside from that, Roxie thought he looked nice in ...his navy business suit and striped tie. She could see it was just pressed. Maybe Cal wasn’t moving so he wouldn’t get wrinkled.It was difficult to sit in the hard, metal chair waiting for the meeting to start. As she waited Roxie noted how uncomfortable the chair was. She wondered if it was permitted to chew gum in the meeting room. As she was. Several of the beaches on the south coast had deep, man-made tidal pools that were crowded with tourists, but this one was isolated. These natural tidal pools formed occasionally. They had never seen this one. Alan took off his shoes and walked into the pool. The water was less than two meters deep, so it didn’t take long for the sun to warm the frigid water, once the tide had gone out. “It’s warm,” he said. “Let’s go swimming.” “I didn’t bring a suit.” “Neither did I,” he said, as he stripped. And he can give Bethany what she really needs in terms of a future.”“When does Jessica find out where she’s doing her Residency?” Joyce asked.“Next Thursday. It’s pretty much a lock that she’ll be at UofC. Doctor Barton told me privately that they put Jessica first on their list for an Emergency Medicine Residency and she listed them first. While something odd could happen, it’s highly unlikely because UofC has three slots open in Emergency Medicine.”“Are you still meeting Larry for lunch. ‘Here. You should too, your lips are turning blue.’ She holds out another towel, this one, the same shade of maroon as the streaks dyed into her hair. ‘Go on, it’s alright. I won’t peek unless you ask me to.’ That almost-sad smile again–why is that there? ‘I’m so sorry, I should’ve spoken first…’ She steps close, puts the towel in my hands and her face near enough to mine that I can smell the cannibas and cloves on her skin. ‘It’s alright.’ Her eyes catch mine–hold them, let them go–and I walk.