Aaron has a look that appears both very blank and very focussed. The woman in the orange blouse is still weeping, and the two others are flanking her, hugging and consoling her. Robert Griffin and Carl are having a conversation on the side and Melissa is listening in attentively. Jesús appears thoroughly overwhelmed and simply sits there staring.
Carol looks up towards Francois, and says, "Francois, I am so dreadfully, awfully sorry about what just happened to you. And now I understand how absolutely horrible and inappropriate I was yesterday. Please, please forgive me.
"It's alright, Carol", he says. "I think you understand now."
"How awful it must be for you."
"It happens all the time. To all of us. In a way we get used to it. In other ways, we never get used to it."
Melissa wheels out a trolley of coffee that is still brewing, and a couple of plates of packaged cookies.
"Sorry I haven't had time to bake something", she says, "This has all been pretty sudden. But these are Peak Freens variety creams and Celebration, so they´re still pretty good.
I have just learned that the lady in the orange blouse is named Maureen. She seems to be calming down. Melissa pours a cup of coffee that is still brewing and loads a small plate with cookies, which she brings over to Maureen, setting them in front of her on the coffee table.
"Thank you, Melissa", she whispers, now somewhat composed.
Carl announces to all of us, "We all have some things we need to talk about. May I suggest we begin in five minutes?"
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