it was as if she 'd been expecting him ; the way the streetlights played on her features as they walked the late night streets of boston ... how she 'd stared at him across the table at dinner ... the following weekend at cape cod , where they had strolled on the beach and had a picnic in the sand ... or a picnic and a hot-air balloon ride ... jessica and julie ... so much alike ... his thoughts of them combining into one ... images joining together ... julie ... her tears as she watched phantom of the opera ... the sensual touch of her fingers as she cut his hair ... her empathy when he lied about his mother dying unexpectedly ... how proud she seemed when she introduced him to her friends at the bar ... god , he loved her .