Summary

Russ saw his evening with Frances as a Christmas gift. He read everything she said as "an advance" (321). She had even agreed "to go inside with him" at First Reformed so he could lend "her his blues records" (321). In the office, he was close to "standing between her legs" while she sat in his chair (321). They talked again about smoking together. Russ said he was "open to experimenting" with her (322). Just as Frances was moving to leave, Clem knocked on the door. In the lot, after Russ and Clem dug out her car, Frances had called him back over. What she said made him believe he had a chance with her. She wanted to go to Arizona with Crossroads, and urged him to make amends with Ambrose so he could go too.

Russ felt like the Apostle Peter when he "denied to...