Donna came in just as I served up two plates of bacon and eggs with toast and a cup of coffee.“Thanks, boss,” she said as she sat at the table and...grabbed a plate of food.“No problem.”We ate together quietly, and she then helped me clean up. Finally, over a second cup of coffee, she pulled out her stack of notes for the morning brief.“Okay, here is the run-down. The office has received the last receipts from the patent office for your filings with Dr. Wilkerson. We have also received several. On a saturday evening we reached Balugaon and from there we moved to one place on the banks of Chilika called Barkul. Rajendra bhai had organized his son’s birthday there and it was evening and so he had booked rooms for all the guests too. Although we had plans that we will return by night only, but after the programme it got very dark and some breeze with sprinkle of rains spoiled our plans and we had to stay back. Apa said we will stay here and go back in the morning.At night all of us. She still clung to me fiercely, but her sobbing had subsided. I kissed her forehead gently and said I wouldn’t do anything that stupid again. I rocked her slowly. When she composed herself, Molly pushed me away and said, “Damn you. You should have called me. I was a nervous wreck! I couldn’t think straight. I skipped dance practice and drive like mad to get here.” She stood and began pacing. “You asshole! Why couldn’t you call me? Just hearing your voice would have put me at ease. . " I'll manage he thought to himself. Ha. Managingto use those was going to be nothing compared to managing his ownfeelings. But he already knew he couldn't give this up without followingEveline down whatever route she had planned for him a while longer yet.She glanced down at his lap, amused but in a nice way. A damp patch wasapparent again. She moved back to her own chair to put some distancebetween them even if it was only a couple of metres. Picking up her bag,she asked him if he was wearing.