In an instant, he was on his feet, and he took her in his arms and kissed her, scarcely conscious of the smattering of applause and cheers from the small crowd that he hadn’t realized had gathered around them. An enterprising Mr. Thomas, who had been watching through the window of his store, stepped out and joined in the applause.

As soon as they had their wits half about them, the jeweler swept them into the store with a grand gesture and a slightly smug smile. Together they chose her ring, a simple princess-cut diamond set on a narrow gold band. Harry wrote a check and Anne wore the ring out of the store, admiring its lovely glint. “Everyone is going to be so surprised!” she said, as the Thomas Jewelers doorbell jingled and they stepped out onto the street. Harry laughed, hugged her tight enough to lift her off the ground, and kissed her again, reveling in her sweetness, in his good fortune.

Chapter 46

The Cook’s Creed

A well-prepared dish and an appetizing meal is a creative achievement; therefore—I shall derive happiness from work itself.

—The Modern Family Cook Book, 1942

THE MICKELSON HOUSE
502 W. First Street, Pine Rapids
Tuesday, August 1, 1950

Dolly was frustrated the whole time she was cleaning the upstairs bedroom in the Mickelson house and making up the bed for JJ. That he would respond to her suggestion to talk about his past with “I don’t think so, Dolly”!

When she finally went back downstairs, he seemed eager to apologize, and asked her if she would come back again tomorrow. Still peevish, she snapped, “Probably,” and rushed out. Even as she said it, though, she knew there was no way she could stay away from the house. Or from him, for that matter. Upset with him, she had felt lonelier than ever. Even shaping up another room of the Mickelson house hadn’t been satisfying, when she was on the outs with JJ. She knew it was wrong to be developing such an irrational attachment to a man who was not her husband—to feel that way about him and then not make every effort to steer clear of him. In fact, to seek him out the way she was doing! Especially considering that he wasn’t exactly moral, what with his drinking and all his problems. The truth was, though, that she was more like JJ than she wanted to admit: alone. A little lost.