hought I looked unhappy。 I'm not。〃
He went back to eating； but slowly； thoughtfully。 〃No； I suppose you're
not； not right now；〃 he finally said。 〃But earlier； there was a look in
your eyes。 It es and goes。 There it is again。〃
The sound of his voice had been enough to spark memories。 With a barely
perceptible shake of her head； she chased them off again。 〃I do love
what I'm doing；〃 she said。
〃Tell me about it。 How did you get started？〃
〃You heard the bare outline tonight。〃
〃The bare outline。 Now I'd like to hear more。〃 His pause was pregnant
with unspoken thoughts。 〃Why geology？〃
She shrugged。 〃Why not？〃
He didn't pull any punches。 〃Because it's one of the last fields that
someone raised in the style of conspicuous consumption would choose。〃
〃Maybe that's why I chose it。〃
〃Ah。〃 He smiled。 〃You were rebelling。〃
〃Not entirely…〃
〃Escaping？〃
She looked away。 〃You're perceptive。 But only half right。〃
〃Go on。〃
Chloe tucked a long strand of dark hair behind her ear。 〃It was actually
a simultaneous discovery@scape and excitement。 At that period of my
life； I needed something that was a total change from everything I'd
known before。 I spent some time in Newport with friends and fell in love
with the ocean there。〃
〃You found solace？〃 he asked gently。
She admitted it with a small tilt of her head。 〃I spent a