She stifled the urge and broke into a run, weaving her way past him and out of the garage, then through their hushed little yard. She banged in the back door, and raced through the kitchen and dining room, down the hall and into their bedroom, where she flung herself onto the bed and lost count of her tears. She didn’t care if it was juvenile: She missed her mother, her sisters, Jane, her father. It wasn’t fair that Byron could take them all from her, and her flight lessons, too, and expect her to be satisfied with this common little bungalow in this common little town!

She had sobbed herself to sleep, thinking this way, but, after night fell, Byron came to her and woke her with a gentle hand on her hip. She rolled over, and got lost in his moonlit eyes. “I’m sorry, Doll,” he told her, running his hand down her body, kissing her. He unbuttoned everything, more slowly this time. He turned back the covers she’d flopped upon, and spread her flat on the cool sheets. His hands felt like the best dream she had ever had, and they made love slowly, deeply. “I love you, Dolly,” he whispered. “More than anything. More than anything, Doll, baby.”

Or had she dreamed it all? This morning over his eggs he would hardly meet her eyes. He wolfed his food again, and dashed out the door, after giving her a brief kiss. She was so confused and disheartened that she barely roused herself to come over to the Mickelson house.

But the minute she had boosted herself into the house through the parlor window, she felt better. She felt at home here. There might be sadness in the walls, but at least that meant that happiness was possible. The bungalow felt empty of everything.

She dusted off the stool and sat down at the piano, wondering if Wilma had sat here and taught her children to play. She hoped that after last night there might be a child growing inside her. She was certain she would stop picking fights with Byron if there was. If she had a baby, she was certain she would never want to fly away, then.

Chapter 19

THE MICKELSON HOUSE
502 W. First Street, Pine Rapids
March 1899