"I know."

They lay side by side, relaxing, their hands on each other's still pulsating flesh, unable to be apart.

After what seemed like only a short time, Erika moved. "I have to get up. Somebody has to earn a living."

Kate's face grew hot. She turned over so that their bodies no longer touched. "That's not fair. I'll go out today and look for a job."

Erika said gently, "Let's not fight. One thing I've learned is about money, what it does, what it won't do. It buys food, that's all."

"I’ll find a job just the same."

"It doesn't matter. Only hold me for a minute. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Eventually they got out of bed. Erika dressed quickly and neatly as though the ticking of the clock regulated her movements. Kate stood lost in thought with a slip in her hand, watching that slender white body swallowed up by clothing. The morning light caught Erika in a series of ballet-like poses that seemed unbelievably beautiful. They locked the door behind them and went out into the morning sunshine together, Erika holding Kate's arm against her side in a way that already seemed dear and accustomed.

In the small restaurant where they stopped for breakfast, a breakfast Erika almost surely could not afford, Kate found herself unable to eat. She watched Erika's face across the table. At last she found the courage to say it. "I never want to be away from you."

"Never is a long time. There is no such time."

"I used to think that, too."

"But now you think different?" Erika put her fork down neatly on the plate. For such a slim girl, she had an amazing appetite. "You said something to me last night. I don't use those words so easily. I haven't used them many times in my life, they're too good for everyday. But I think they are true for me too." She gave Kate her slow smile.

They had more coffee. Kate still couldn't speak; she had trouble swallowing. Finally Erika stood up. "I have a third-period class, no study hall today. Please do something for me, darling. Please sit here and have another coffee after I leave. I like to think about you."

"All right."

But when the waitress brought the coffee she couldn't drink it. How can you eat and drink when you are so full and running over with love? She took the cup politely and sat with it in her hand, watching Erika pay the cashier and open the door and walk out without a backward glance. Under the cotton of her blouse she could feel the quickened beating of her heart. It had been beating in time with Erika's all night long.

CHAPTER 9

She was tired of going from agency to agency, look-for non-existent jobs, filling out index cards with doctored facts. They would only be filed with hundreds of other cards and meant nothing anyway. She was tired of having the bored women behind desks pull out her employment record, read it, and look at her coldly. "You left the A-1 Coal and Lumber Company after two weeks without giving them any notice? Why was that?"