"I'll be right back," I said, meaningfully. Rachel practically gasped at my 'brazenness', and I heard her whisper - albeit through stifled laughter -... "How could he take such advantage of me?!" as I left. Within only a couple of minutes, I had returned to the table. It had to be said, the act of walking through the cafe with my underpants stuffed in a trouser pocket made me feel a lot more exposed than it should have done. Still, having successfully completed my part of the bargain, I. ? She was twenty-three yearsold, which I thought was rather young for a divorc?e and like me she had movedto Toronto to get a freshstart.? We sipped wine and traded goofyanecdotes until I excused myself saying that it was late and I had to get upearly for work in the morning (a lie but one should never overstay oneswelcome), but as I stepped through the door I turned and asked if she would beinterested in seeing a movie.? She saidthat sounded lovely, and we agreed to see a film that. "We knew about the boysseeing us then; we weren't caught by surprise. Also, you never showedus yours." I can't help that," said Becky. "I don't *have* mine." She leanedback, spread her legs, and lifted herself into a bridge. "But Ipromise, once my pass expires and I become Bruce again, and get mineback, I'll let you -- any of you -- see it. We will stay together,won't we, when the summer's over?" She sounded sad, almost pleading."Of course, dear," said Vanessa, reaching over to hug her. . ’ Cathy puts her arm through Linda’s, ‘Let’s go meet Julie and Paige, and I’ll tell you about Mark.’ She gives Linda’s arm a light but firm tug, ‘Don’t forget, you suggested I should go for someone different.’ ***** Janet leans forward over the kitchen’s island, patting Linda’s hands where they rest on the cold granite countertop, and smiles, ‘I know, he has that affect doesn’t he.’ ‘It was so easy to open up to him. I still can’t believe we talked so long,’ Linda replies, grabbing the lettuce,.