Cancelled Trip Quotes

I had to go away for a few days so I called the kennel and made an appointment. I guess Bear overheard the conversation. “Love and company,” said Bear, “are the adornments that change everything. I know they’ll be nice to me, but I’ll be sad, sad, sad.” And pitifully he wrung his paws. I cancelled the trip.

Then Nuvoletta reflected for the last time in her little long life and she made up all her myriads of drifting minds in one. She cancelled all her engauzements. She climbed over the bannistars; she gave a childy cloudy cry: Nuee! Nuee! A lightdress fluttered. She was gone. And into the river that had been a stream . . . there fell a tear, a singult tear, the loveliest of all tears . . . for it was a leaptear. But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh! I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!

I'm not canceling this trip.” She added the words that strike terror into every traveler's heart. “It's non-refundable.

And, Poppy, when this happens again (which it will), do not go in so hard on the apology. You are not the master of your immune system and I can assure you that when your male colleagues have to cancel a trip, they show no indication that they feel they have personally wronged me. Don’t encourage people to blame you for something beyond your control. You are a fantastic writer, and we are lucky to have you.

There was only one bar of that name, in a back street of an inner suburb. I had already modified the day’s schedule, cancelling my market trip to catch up on the lost sleep. I would purchase a ready-made dinner instead. I am sometimes accused of being inflexible, but I think this demonstrates an ability to adapt to even the strangest of circumstances.

my unexpected trip to the light may have been cancelled, but here I was, still paying the cost of the return ticket

Thinking it’ll be tough, one forwent the test; while other took it but studied hardest. Thinking it might rain, one canceled his trip; while other pushed through, with raincoat equipped. Thoughts of hindrance make you not negative, it’s in the kind of reaction you’ll give. If the negative’s way is just to quit, the positive’s style is find ways round it.

Mr. Parker, a businessman, is leaving on a trip and stops by his office on the way to the airport, around midnight. The night watchman, Paul stops him and says, “Mr. Parker, please don’t take that flight. I had a dream last night, a little after midnight,  that your plane would crash and everyone would die!” The business man cancels his trip and sure enough, the plane crashes, no survivors. Mr. Parker gives Paul a $20,000 reward for saving his life, then fires him. Why? Give

Baron von Munchausen (1720–97) was a real person who had fought as a soldier in Russia. On his return home he told stories about his exploits that nobody believed. These included riding on a cannonball, taking a brief trip to the moon, and escaping from a marsh by pulling himself out by his own hair. This latter feat is impossible, for the upward force on the Baron’s hair would have been cancelled out by the downward force on his arm. It’s a nice idea, though, and von Munchausen’s preposterous principle was later taken up by Americans, but instead of talking about hair, the Americans started in the late nineteenth century to talk of pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps. What’s impossible in physics is possible in computing, and a computer that’s able to load its own programs is, metaphorically, pulling itself up by its own bootstraps. In 1953 the process was called a bootstrap. By 1975 people had got bored with the strap, and from then on computers simply booted up.

But even if you’re stretching yourself in the service of a core personal project, you don’t want to act out of character too much, or for too long. Remember those trips Professor Little made to the restroom in between speeches? Those hideout sessions tell us that, paradoxically, the best way to act out of character is to stay as true to yourself as you possibly can—starting by creating as many “restorative niches” as possible in your daily life. “Restorative niche” is Professor Little’s term for the place you go when you want to return to your true self. It can be a physical place, like the path beside the Richelieu River, or a temporal one, like the quiet breaks you plan between sales calls. It can mean canceling your social plans on the weekend before a big meeting at work, practicing yoga or meditation, or choosing e-mail over an in-person meeting. (Even Victorian ladies, whose job effectively was to be available to friends and family, were expected to withdraw for a rest each afternoon.)

You might say, “I know I am an immortal spirit,” or “I am tired of this mad world, and peace is all I want”—until the phone rings. Bad news: The stock market has collapsed; the deal may fall through; the car has been stolen; your mother-in-law has arrived; the trip is cancelled, the contract has been broken; your partner has left you; they demand more money; they say it’s your fault. Suddenly there is a surge of anger, of anxiety. A harshness comes into your voice; “I can’t take any more of this.” You accuse and blame, attack, defend, or justify yourself, and it’s all happening on autopilot. Something is obviously much more important to you now than the inner peace that a moment ago you said was all you wanted, and you’re not an immortal spirit anymore either. The deal, the money, the contract, the loss or threat of loss are more important. To whom? To the immortal spirit that you said you are? No, to me. The small me that seeks security or fulfillment in things that are transient and gets anxious or angry because it fails to find it. Well, at least now you know who you really think you are.

the Ku Klux Klan Act. He had planned a California trip that spring, but canceled it in the belief that he couldn’t sidestep this historic moment. The strong new measure laid down criminal penalties for depriving citizens of their rights under the Fourteenth Amendment, including holding office, sitting on a jury, or casting a vote. The federal government could prosecute such cases when state governments refused to act. The law also endowed Grant with extraordinary powers to suspend habeas corpus, declare martial law, and send in troops. To halt night riders, the act made it illegal “to conspire together, or go in disguise upon the public highway . . . for the purpose . . . of depriving any person . . . of equal protection of the law.

Thinking it’ll be tough, one forwent the test; while other took it but studied hardest. Thinking it might rain, one canceled his trip; while other pushed through, with raincoat equipped. Thoughts of hindrance make you not negative, it’s in the kind of reaction you’ll give. If the negative’s way is just to quit, the positive’s style is find ways round it.

We drove into the Cradle Mountain resort still munching on raspberries. Emma and Kate waited with the kids in the car. “I’ll just be a minute,” I said. “I’ll check in and we’ll head to our rooms.” The currawongs were calling, and a padymelon, a small version of a roo, hopped off a wall just at the edge of the car park as I went in. “Where’s all the snow?” I asked the woman behind the desk. “It snowed this morning,” she said. “Well, good,” I said. “There’s hope.” Then she passed me a note. She said, “Frank called from the zoo.” “I’m not surprised,” I said. “I haven’t called the zoo all day, and Frank is always trying to track me down.” “Why don’t you come take the call in the office?” she said. I thought that was a little odd, since when I had been there before I’d always used the pay phone near the pub at the resort. But I entered the office and sat down in a big, comfortable chair. I could see the car park out the window. Emma and Kate were still out at the car. Robert had fallen asleep, and Kate sat inside with him. Bindi smiled and laughed with Emma. “How you going, Frank?” I said into the phone. He said, “Hi, Terri. I’ve been trying to get hold of you for a while.” His voice had a heavy, serious tone. “Well, I’ve just got here,” I said. “Sorry about that, but I’m here now. What’s up?” “I’m sorry to say that Steve had a bit of an accident while he was diving,” Frank said. “I’m afraid he got hit in the chest by a stingray’s barb.” I’m sure there wasn’t much of a pause, but I felt time stop. I knew what Frank was going to say next. I just kept repeating the same thing over and over in my head. Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it. Then Frank said the three words I did not want him to say, “And he died.” I took a deep breath and looked out the window. There was Bindi, so happy to have finally arrived at one of her favorite places. We were going to have fun. She had brought her teacher and Kate. She was so excited. And the world stopped. I took another breath. “Thank you very much for calling, Frank,” I said. I didn’t know what I was saying. I was overwhelmed, already on autopilot. “You need to cancel the rest of our trip, you need to contact my family in Oregon, and you need to get us home.” So it began.

30. The Watchman’s Dream Mr. Parker, a businessman, is leaving on a trip and stops by his office on the way to the airport, around midnight. The night watchman, Paul stops him and says, “Mr. Parker, please don’t take that flight. I had a dream last night, a little after midnight,  that your plane would crash and everyone would die!” The business man cancels his trip and sure enough, the plane crashes, no survivors. Mr. Parker gives Paul a $20,000 reward for saving his life, then fires him. Why? Give me a clue | Answer

We never did lack for eager volunteers, but there was no one who could give them [Florida volunteers] clear-cut directions. Some work was duplicated while other chores were left undone. The national office in Washington was in the same plight. In the confusion, local jealousies and rivalries thrived. Compared with the professional and well-financed campaigns of the other candidates, mine did not inspire confidence. There were countless damaging results; a trip to St. Petersburg was rescheduled five times and finally cancelled four days before the last date agreed on, but no one in Tampa thought to tell the St. Petersburg TImes, and its reporter went out and waited for me to arrive. It was not a good way to treat one of the state's leading newspapers.

I knew the markets were watching my every move: canceling the trip could spark rumors that might further endanger Citi.

My preferred mode of travel to and from the island is the fast ferry. From April through December, both the Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises operate ferries throughout the day. The trip takes an hour, and round trip costs around eighty dollars. Weather often affects travel to and from the island. If the wind is blowing twenty-five miles an hour or stronger, the ferries may cancel (each trip is at the discretion of the captain). If there is fog (which there often is in June and early July), planes are grounded. (Fun fact: Tom Nevers Field was used by the U.S. military in World War II to practice taking off and landing in the fog.) Once on Nantucket, you can either rent a Jeep (Nantucket Windmill Auto Rental, Nantucket Island Rent a Car) or rent a bike (Young’s Bicycle Shop, Nantucket Bike

Then why can’t you look at me?” I demanded. “Dammit, Ále.” A small, humiliating crack split her name in half. “Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me anymore?” “Loving you was never the problem! I’ve loved you for eleven years, Dom. I loved you so much I lost myself. Everything I did, everything I gave up and endured was for you. The late nights, the missed dates, the canceled trips. I believed in you and wanted you to succeed, not because I cared about the money, but because you did. I thought one day, it would be enough, and you would be happy with what we had. But you’ll never be happy, and I’ll never be enough.

I’ve loved you for eleven years, Dom. I loved you so much I lost myself. Everything I did, everything I gave up and endured was for you. The late nights, the missed dates, the canceled trips. I believed in you and wanted you to succeed, not because I cared about the money, but because you did. I thought one day, it would be enough, and you would be happy with what we had. But you’ll never be happy, and I’ll never be enough.

Every insurance company is different, and you should look around to see what companies offer and which are best for your trip. For that, I highly recommend the website Insure My Trip (insuremytrip.com). They compare insurance policies for more than twenty insurance providers, and because they let you compare plans in a grid layout, it’s easy to see exactly what each company covers. You’ll be able to compare medical coverage limits, emergency evacuation coverage, trip cancellation coverage, dental coverage, disaster coverage, and everything else under the sun. Some of the most popular travel insurance companies include STA Travel Insurance (statravel.com), World Nomads (worldnomads .com), MedEx (medexassist.com), MedjetAssist (medjetassist.com), and IMG (imglobal.com).

firms doing business with Israel. “I have clients interested in buying a diamond,” Sawyer said. Eight months before, a necklace had been ordered from Hopeman & Son by a customer in Kuwait, and then the order had been cancelled abruptly. Since then, nothing had been sold to anyone in the Arab countries. “I’ll be happy to have someone show you what we have,” he said, bemused. “No, no. They desire a particular diamond, offered for sale in the Holy Land.” “Where?” Sawyer raised a hand. “In Israel. They wish you to go there to buy it for them.” “It is nice to be needed.” Sawyer shrugged. “You are Harry Hopeman.” “Who are ‘they’?” “I am not at liberty. You understand.” “I am not interested,” Harry said. “Mr. Hopeman. It will be a brief trip that will open important doors and bring you such a lot of money. We are businessmen. Please do not allow politics—” “Mr. Sawyer. If your employers want me to work for them, they must ask me themselves.” His visitor

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. —Isaiah 55:8 (NIV) Our plans were set to visit friends in Boston over the weekend. My wife, Elba, and I were excited; we’d known Hilda and Frankie for over thirty years. However, on my way home from work to begin the weekend, I got a call from Hilda. “Pablo, we need to postpone your visit. We have a stomach bug and don’t want you to catch it.” When I got home, the first thing out of my mouth was, “Honey, you are not going to believe it, but our trip was canceled.” “What happened?” asked Elba. “I am so disappointed. I was really looking forward to going away,” I responded, not listening to my wife’s question. “Why was it canceled?” she asked. But I didn’t answer, so focused on my own concerns was I. “We had this trip planned for weeks! You know how much I enjoy spending time with Frankie. I’m so frustrated.” When I finally got around to telling Elba the reason, she responded in her usual way: “God knows everything.” This is how she looks at unexpected circumstances in life: postponed trips, getting stuck in traffic. It doesn’t matter what it is, Elba sees life through the lens that shows God is in control, God has a reason, God has our best interest. Lord, help me to trust that Your plans and ways are filled with Your goodness. —Pablo Diaz Digging Deeper: Ps 135:6; Prv 16:9

February 24 Disappointed For this is contained in Scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.—1 Peter 2:6 (NASB) Life is full of disappointments. I have walked through numerous disappointments. A job was declined. I broke my foot (falling down ONE step). I had to cancel a trip to Montana to see my aunt who passed away shortly afterwards. All of this happened in a span of two months. We all experience things in our lives that disappoint us. As women, we develop expectations in our minds of how a certain situation is supposed to turn out. If you had asked me at the age of twenty-one what I would be doing at age twenty-six, the single life would not have been my answer. I expected to be married to the man of my dreams by now and starting our own family. However, God’s plan and my expectations were different, very different! While there are times that I am disappointed with the way life is going, I know that I will not be disappointed in the end. You see, as believers, our hope and focus is not on life here on earth. Our focus is on Jesus Christ, our precious corner stone. If we believe in him and walk in his light, we will not be disappointed in the end. We have eternal life! Scripture is not saying that it is wrong for us to be disappointed at times. He knows when our heart is breaking because a relationship did not turn out the way we wanted. He knows the drop in our stomach that comes when we learn of a family member’s illness or death. He knows our frustration when things at work just keep going the wrong direction. Trust me, whatever disappointment you are walking through right now, God knows. What Scripture does say is that ultimately we will not be disappointed. When life on earth is over, we will have eternal life with our Savior. Now that is something to celebrate.

First stop coming up. Close your eyes.” I shake my head at him. “Are you looking to get spanked later, Coffee Girl?” My eyebrow arches as I study him. “Maybe.” A low whistle slips between his lips. “Trip canceled. Heading home right now.” I laugh. “Fine by me.” He groans. “No, no. I drove all the way here. You’re not conning me into canceling my plans. No matter how badly you deserve the palm of my hand on that luscious ass of yours.

You are not the master of your immune system and I can assure you that when your male colleagues have to cancel a trip, they show no indication that they feel they have personally wronged me. Don’t encourage people to blame you for something beyond your control.

Mr. Parker, a businessman, is leaving on a trip and stops by his office on the way to the airport, around midnight. The night watchman, Paul stops him and says, “Mr. Parker, please don’t take that flight. I had a dream last night, a little after midnight,  that your plane would crash and everyone would die!” The business man cancels his trip and sure enough, the plane crashes, no survivors. Mr. Parker gives Paul a $20,000 reward for saving his life, then fires him. Why?

This. And this will be the first of many cancellations. I will spend hours—maybe even hundreds of them—explaining. First with doctor’s notes, then with death certificates, saying thank you when people trip over their condolences. Answering questions over and over because people cannot help but want to know how young people die. They need to know what they can do differently as not to meet the same fate. I will go from carrying a red notebook to a blue folder to a canvas bag full of everything I need to close accounts and then open them. To prove that a man existed and then didn’t. That a wife existed and then didn’t. That a family existed and now looks like something else.

I have only flown one trip with Frontier Airlines. Outbound they canceled my flights which stranded me in Denver when the final destination was Atlanta. I had to buy a United Airlines ticket to get to Atlanta. I was told I would receive a full refund, but that never happened (fraud?). I purchased the same return ticket again and had a 3-4 hour delay in Atlanta while they flew in a pilot from another city to fly the plane! Expect your personal item to be checked for size on most flights – you will pay more to take it onboard if it is too big. They are at the bottom of my choice of airline for flying now.

Flight get canceled? Instead of rushing the ticket agent with the rest of the travelers, call the airline’s 1-800 number. They can do the exact same stuff as the agent can, and you’ll beat 90 percent of the line by doing so.

Did you know that credit cards automatically give you amazing consumer protection? Here are a few examples you might not know about: ■ Automatic warranty doubling: Most cards extend the warranty on your purchases. So if you buy an iPhone and it breaks after Apple’s warranty expires, your credit card will still cover it up to an additional year. This is true for nearly every credit card for nearly every purchase, automatically. ■ Car rental insurance: If you rent a car, don’t let them sell you on getting the extra collision insurance. It’s completely worthless! You already have coverage through your existing car insurance, plus your credit card will usually back you up to $50,000. ■ Trip-cancellation insurance: If you book tickets for a vacation and then get sick and can’t travel, your airline will charge you hefty fees to rebook your ticket. Just call your credit card and ask for the trip-cancellation insurance to kick in, and they’ll cover those change fees—usually between $3,000 to $10,000 per trip. ■ Concierge services: When I couldn’t find LA Philharmonic tickets, I called my credit card and asked the concierge to try to find some. He called me back in two days with tickets. They charged me (a lot, actually), but he was able to get them when nobody else could.

American Airlines Reservations +1-855-653-5006 How to Get Last-Minute American Airlines Reservations +1-855-653-5006 Deals American Airlines provides attractive last-minute deals to its passengers willing to book domestic or international flights. These deals are required by the passengers who plan a trip at the last moment i.e. when you wish to travel to your destination within a couple of days. American Airlines provides last-minute deals to the passengers which provide you with the facility to make reservations to your desired destination at the last minute. These American Airlines last-minute deals are made on the seats canceled by the passengers at the last moment. Generally, you get offers of last-minute deals 14 days before your date of journey. To get these last-minute deals you need to be in touch with the Airlines through- Customer care executive Social networking sites

@@+1-855-653-0624@@Qatar Airways Manage Bookings @@+1-855-653-0624@@Qatar Airways Manage Bookings. Do you want to alter your itinerary? Are you having a flight booking with Qatar Airways and now wish to enhance your experience? Get all your answers with Qatar Airways Manage Booking and improve your air travel. Qatar Airways is regarded as one of the leading air carriers in Qatar and is preferred by most travellers. It is generally known for its world-class customer services and luxurious facilities. After processing their Qatar Airways booking, if the passengers wish for any modification to their travel plan, they can easily do it with the help of the manage booking section available on the Qatar Airways Official website. @@+1-855-653-0624@@Qatar Airways Manage Bookings. How can I Manage my Booking with Qatar Airways? After you book your flight online or offline, Qatar Airways manage Booking is usually a vital flight service that gives you the chance to grab the most exciting offers and easily manage your flights. Here are the steps which you can follow to manage your flight booking with Qatar Airways. Steps to manage your booking with Qatar Firstly visit the official booking website for Qatar Airways and login into your account with the correct credentials. Go to the Qatar Airways Manage my Booking tab and enter your booking reference number with the last name on the ticket to retrieve your booked flights. Now select the flight which you wish to manage and click on the modify button. Choose from one of these available options Add excess baggage Change/cancel your flights Seat selection Request extra seat Add meals Make special service requests Request refunds Add more passengers to the booking Change the date, name, or contact information on the flight. Now enter all the relevant booking information and manage your flight booking comfortably. After you complete this task, you’ll receive a confirmation message on your given contact information. Various Qatar Airways with Qatar Airways? There are times when we need to make some changes to our flights or add something to our itinerary to improve the overall flight experience. If you also have some issues or entered any wrong information during the booking process, you can simply browse the Qatar Airways online manage booking section and make some alterations. Here is a list of various services offered on the manage booking page. Review your flight and itinerary plan The very first and essential benefit of the Qatar Airways manages booking section is that you can review your flight plan and view the details included in your itinerary. To accomplish this task, all you have to do is visit the official website, go to the My trips/check-in section, and view their flight details by logging in with the correct information. They can even print out an e-ticket. Change your flights with Qatar Airways Manage booking. Unexpected situations lead us to take comprehensive measures. That’s why in case of emergencies or unavoidable conditions we need to change our already made booking. You can change your flights easily with the Qatar Airways manage My booking option. You just have to submit your relevant details and follow the instructions to make specific changes. You can change the date, time, and day of your flight by visiting the official Qatar Airways website. Steps to change your flight with Qatar Airways Visit the official website for Qatar Airways and look for the manage booking option. Enter the My trips section and submit your e-ticket confirmation number with your last name to access your flight details. Now choose the change or cancel flight option and continue with the change flight procedure. Follow the instructions given on the screen and change your flight booking. Specific flight changes incur a change fee that you have to clear before confirming your itinerary changes.

I just know that loss is the worst kind of pain, and it took me a really long time to stop punishing myself. People saying, “It’s not your fault” doesn’t even make a mark on how much guilt you feel for something over which you had no control. What if I had been in the car and she had been sitting in a different seat, what if it had been raining and the trip had been cancelled, what if I’d surprised her with our own weekend away… I just know one thing: no one, not a single soul, could ever have talked me out of those feelings. I just needed to ride them, I needed to be consumed by them, endure them, and then one day wake up and feel sad, so painfully sad that I didn’t want to live anymore – but not guilty.

You are not the master of your immune system and I can assure you that when your male colleagues have to cancel a trip, they show no indication that they feel they have personally wronged me. Don't encourage people to blame you for something beyond your control.

Watchman’s Dream Mr. Parker, a businessman, is leaving on a trip and stops by his office on the way to the airport, around midnight. The night watchman, Paul stops him and says, “Mr. Parker, please don’t take that flight. I had a dream last night, a little after midnight,  that your plane would crash and everyone would die!” The business man cancels his trip and sure enough, the plane crashes, no survivors. Mr. Parker gives Paul a $20,000 reward for saving his life, then fires him.

Not one thing on the planet operates as I would have it, and only here can I plot my counterattacks. Problem one: The fevers my year-old son gets every few weeks can spike to 105°, which means waking the husband, a frantic trip to Children’s Hospital, a sleepless night in the waiting room. No reason for this, nothing wrong with his immune system or growth. They’ll give him the cherry-flavored goop that makes him shit his brains out, and the cough will ease, but his stomach will cramp, and on the nights he ingests that medicine, he’ll draw his stumpy legs to his chest in agony and ball up tight, then arch his back and scream, and though no one suggests this is my fault, my inability to stop it is my chief failure in the world. Problem two: If he’s sick, I’ll have to cancel classes so maybe the real professors who just hired me on a friend’s recommendation—despite my being too muttonheaded to sport a very relevant diploma—will fail to renew me next semester. I’ve published one slim volume of verse and some essays, but so has every other semiliterate writer in Cambridge.

There’s nothing there except for her word, and what good is that when she was the one sending you all those texts. But you wanna know the kicker? You want me to crack an egg of knowledge over your head?” I didn’t answer. Christmas wiggled his fingers in the air, and then sang “Spoiler alert! Regina’s the one who asked me for help. It’s not the other way around this time.” He pounded the butt of his fist against the table. “Man! I hate ruining surprises!” My heart stopped. I patted my chest with my open palm to get it going again. Okay, not really, but that’s what it felt like. Christmas could see the confusion on my face and he continued to floor me with his words. “I’m sure by now you’ve noticed the show choir has been absorbed with the set they’ve been creating all afternoon. It’s quite elaborate, and everyone in the show choir is required to help, but… has Regina been helping at all? Has she been sweating away, moving huge boxes back and forth with the other kids in the show choir?” I paused. “No. She’s been running around the mall taking selfies. But… her parents were here. They came to watch her performance.” Christmas snapped his fingers at me. “Connect those dots, Valentine…” “But if Regina’s not in the show choir, then her parents can only be here because they think she’s in it,” I said, staring at the table. “But why would she lie to them?” “Cha-ching!” Christmas was giving me a hint. “Don’t forget that membership is $200 a month!” “That’s why Regina seems to have so much money all the time,” I said. “She faked being a member of show choir to keep the money for herself. But… why the selfie game? Why send us all over the mall?” “Because I told her to,” Christmas chuckled. “Yeah, that was all me. She came to me, asking for help to cancel the entire trip, which I actually tried to do earlier.” Little light bulbs were switching on in my head. “That’s what the sign was for this morning.” And then I remembered the girl who shouted. “That was Regina in the cafeteria! She tried to start a food fight so the school would cancel the show before we even boarded the buses!” “Didn’t work,” Christmas said. “I knew it wouldn’t, but that didn’t stop her. She came to me again at the mall and asked for my help, so I did. I told her exactly what to do, and she did it perfectly, distracting you like the bugs you are.” “Distracting us?” I asked. Christmas turned around. “She’s planning on sabotaging the show choir performance. If they don’t perform, then her parents will never learn that she’s not in the club.

No doubt his assistant had altered his travel arrangements a million times, trips with girlfriends canceled last minute. Trips back home never booked. Work always took precedence over fun and family. That laid-back, affectionate guy at Christmas was simply a disposable costume, tried on and discarded. Too bad; I had really liked that guy. Across the table, Jacob smiled at me a little crookedly, a little uncertainly, as if dumbfounded by this step he had taken, inviting me to Huangzhou. Even so, his eyes were so warm, they made fondue of my thoughts until I saw Merc sidle a glance from Jacob to me, wistfully. Maybe Merc had been afraid of the guy he became when he was with Elisa — looser, freer, like intimate chats on a patio compared to staid dining room small talk. I knew how hard it was to reveal myself, each admission of my secrets and dreams making me vulnerable because they could become weapons to scoff at me. To echo the doubts so stubbornly lodged in my head. As I suspected, Merc returned to his BlackBerry once more, his face setting like hardening cement into its normal, dispassionate business mask. Work was as good a shield as any to protect against intimacy that could scrub someone raw.