Eugenia brushed past him and sat on his quilted bed. Three scratched brown window shades were pulled down and the sun was on them like yellow hairs. His combs and brushes and shaving mug and razors were neatly arranged on his mirrored dresser. She looked at the books on his vanity. “Oh, you have the Montgomery Ward catalogue!”

“You may need some household goods. I don’t know about those things. If you want anything just put the order in.”

Eugenia lay back on the bed with her hand behind her head and her dress curled off her ankles. He walked over to the bed and stood there. The black dye he used on his hair leaked from his scalp with sweat. Her left hand dangled against his pants leg. “Can I visit you in the night?” she asked.

His left hand was in his pocket; his right hand reached out to stroke her hair. She kissed it on the palm and gazed into his eyes as she slid his hand over her cheek and down her neck and onto the laced bodice of her blouse. He took a breath and quavered.

“You can touch me here—”

“Oh God.”

She moved his hand lower. “—and here.”

He dropped to his knees and crushed her dress to his eyes. “I don’t. I don’t believe it. I’ve waited so long. I’ve been without companionship—she treated me like a child!”

She put her hand in his hair. “We’ll tell everyone that we’re married,” she said. “My name will be Mrs. Mundy.”