This was August, though, and the streets were not crowded; no one spoke to Phil,no one paid him any attention at all. Just an ordinary looking man, sh...rt andslender, with bright, blue eyes behind thick spectacles and poorly cut hair thecolor of dust. In the bus station, Phil bought a ticket to Costa Mesa, themiddle-class shoreless twin of upscale Newport Beach. The air there would becleaner and at least twenty degrees cooler, bathed in the nightly onshore flowoff the cool Pacific Ocean.. ..” Elaine cried out, dropping to her knees. “It wasn’t supposed to happen yet! I didn’t see her dying before Father! Why didn’t I see this truly?”‘But you did, Seeker, ‘ the Praetor informed her. ‘Your sister cannot be both Alana, the lover and Béla, the daughter. She chose to lose her identity as Béla and has come to me willingly. I return her memories even as I embrace her within me. Even now, she dreams ... and remembers.’“Will she remember me?” Elaine needed to know. “Will she remember her. The act of kissing someone can transmit so many different emotions. Everything from lust to refusal, friendship to commitment—her thanks, love, and genuine acceptance of their relationship were all present. Natalie accepted the kiss and then said, ‘Thank you for that.’ Laurie smiled warmly and kissed Natalie a second time. ‘I love you kiddo.’ The two wrapped each up in an extended embrace. When they finally untangled, Laurie adjusted her skirt back into place and leaned on the counter to. "That was not the response I was anticipating, but I had to go with it.I asked, "What's your idea?"Lily leaned forwards and said, "I was thinking that maybe you couldtake up cleaning the office after hours."I sunk in my chair as I realized how Lily was going to play her hand. Ifigured that if I didn't agree, she would tell everyone in the officewhat she had seen. Still, as much as the idea of officially working asthe company cleaning lady turned me on in the odd way it had most of mylife, I.