It was going to be all right. She felt more cheerful, walking up the stairs beside him, fitting her key into the door. "Make yourself at home. I'll be right back."

She turned on the bedroom light, ran a comb through her hair and put on a dab of Erika's lipstick which she had forgotten to take along. It was the wrong color, but it made her feel closer to Erika. Every time the clock ticks makes it that much closer to Monday night.

He had unpacked everything and spread it out on the kitchen table. She reached for the coffeepot and began spooning coffee into the metal basket. "Real cream," she said. "Do you use cream? I thought you took it black."

"I do. Bought it for you."

"But I take mine black too. What will we do with it?"

"Find a homeless cat," Doug suggested. "I don't know what happened. Everything went black—and when I came to, there I was with all this junk. Here, have an olive. They've got almonds in them."

He beamed at her, cobbling together an immense Dagwood sandwich with cold meat, cheese, slices of pickle, and a ragged bit of tomato. "Isn't this fun?"

"I'm dying of hunger."

"You know, I haven't called or anything because I'd about made up my mind you didn't like me."

"That's silly. I like you all right."

"That's not much of a compliment, but it'll do for a start." He picked up the paring knife and looked intently at it. "That time you said you'd go to the movies with me, in the winter—Erika called up and said you had the flu. But you went to work the next day." He grinned, looking embarrassed. "I called up and asked your office manager. I thought maybe you didn't like me and didn't know how to tell me."

She decided the truth was best, or as much of the truth as was safe to tell. "I was drunk."

"Oh." He didn't know how to answer. Encouraged, she went on to shock him more. "I'm a compulsive drinker. Maybe Erika told you."

"I knew there was something. I didn't know it was that serious." He looked at her. "You know Erika's not a talker. I've never heard her repeat a word of gossip, and she almost never says anything about herself. She's a great girl, but I don't feel I know her very well."

And you never will, Kate promised him silently. She said in haste, "I don't do it very often. Only once in a while, when I can't help it." She hated herself for sounding defensive. "At least I don't get drunk in taverns and make a public fool of myself."

"Must be great for Erika. Have you talked to a doctor about it? They give you vitamins and stuff."