Meghan looked up at James as he made his opening gambit. If she was at all thrown by the surprise intrusion she didn't show it.
"Working out how Claire pulled this off" she explained matter of factly "you have to look at the little things to figure out the bigger picture, like these!"
She held aloft a seashell, twisting it to the side so James could see it was a little off, a touch flat and discoloured.
"Sorry, I'm probably boring you already!" She caught herself before she explained any further.
"No, not at all" James assured her "in fact, is it ok for us to talk for a bit?"
"Sure" Meghan shrugged "but can we move into the shade. I'm not much of a beach person"
"Of course. And sorry"
"Oh, no need to apologise. If you'd chosen a library there'd have been a riot"
As James and Meghan sat down together in the shade of a nearby palm tree, she turned to him, clearly wanting to get something off her chest.
"Look, I'm sorry about the dog mind thing" she began "but I was concerned for you after three physical transformations in a row, Maria's in particular. Whatever Elspeth might say it takes a real toll on the body and yours needed a break"
"It's fine" James smiled. He was more than happy to believe her.
"So, level with me" Meghan announced suddenly "what's the big secret?"
"What do you mean?" James tried to sound innocent but this girl was worryingly perceptive.
"All your little chats with Elspeth. Has she sent you to interrogate us all?"
James didn't want Meghan thinking that. So he decided to trust her.
"I get to choose a girl to spend more time with. Elspeth gave me the chance to talk to the ones I liked the most"
Meghan's eyes widened a little. For once she seemed slightly taken aback.
"And yet you're sat here chatting to me" she answered after a short pause.
"What's so strange about that?" James asked. From where he was sitting he could hardly have chosen any better.
"Most guys would have run straight to Roxanne ot Maria"
"Perhaps Roxanne and Maria aren't my type"
"Then you have very strange taste" Meghan giggled slightly "but I'm flattered"
She then began stroking sand from her legs as she spoke "so what can I tell you about myself? I'm pretty boring really. I spend most of my time studying"
"You do seem more into that than the others" James admitted.
"I have a different background to them" Meghan twitched her nose cutely for a moment as an insect bothered her "what did Claire conjure up those for!"
"How do you mean different? James asked as she swatted the offending bug away.
"I was adopted as a child. My adoptive family had no idea I was a witch. Neither did I. So it came as something of a shock to all of us as you can probably imagine"
Meghan giggled to herself at some unshared memory. It was very endearing.
"So I have chance to pay people who did so much for me back in ways they never could have imagined, but that takes work" she continued "God, that sounds so big headed and worthy when I say it out loud"
"I think it's admirable" James answered sincerely.
"Thank you" Meghan smiled warmly as she rose to her feet "this has been nice. Just so you know, if you lose your mind and pick me I won't object. In fact, I'd be quite happy"
James was relieved to hear this.
"Even though you are so obviously going to pick Melanie" she smiled over her shoulder as she made her way back to the seashells.
Damn, that girl was perceptive! Melanie had been his first choice - before that conversation. Now he would be more than happy to pick Meghan right away. In fact, she might think less of him if he spent the next hour or so auditioning other girls in front of her. But would it really be wise not to even talk to the other front runners? He had time to chat to three more if he wanted to, he figured. What would he do?