Anja didn’t know what to say. They ate in silence for a while. Once the last bites of her spaetzle and Susanne’s beef were gone and they had asked for the bill, Anja said, “If it ever comes to that…to Nobby giving me the store, I’ll try to set aside some money every month to pay your family back in some way.”

“Let’s worry about that once we’ve managed to save the store, okay?”

“Okay.”

They nodded at each other, and the mood lightened.

The waitress brought the bill. “Are you paying together or separately?”

“Separately,” Anja said, while Susanne answered, “Together.”

Anja looked at her.

“This is on me. I said I’d invite you for, um, the train situation,” Susanne said with a glance at the waitress.

“I was just kidding about you having to buy me dinner for that.”

Susanne handed the waitress a fifty-euro bill. “I wasn’t.”

Anja finally decided to accept the invitation. “Thank you, then.”

“You’re welcome.”

Once Susanne had received some change from the waitress, they headed out.

The temperature had dropped, and Anja buttoned her coat while they walked toward the streetcar stop.

A group of students, apparently a little buzzed, passed them, forcing them to move closer, and neither of them increased the distance between them once the young people had passed. In the cool night air, the warmth of Susanne’s arm against her own felt good.

Anja’s streetcar stop was the first they came to, and Susanne lingered next to her instead of continuing on to her own. “The stop you need is over there.” Anja gestured.

“I know. I’ll wait here with you, then catch mine.”

Anja had to smile at Susanne’s good manners. For a second, she could imagine what it would be like to go on a date with her. Susanne would probably insist on walking her to her door.

The streetcar sliding to a stop next to them interrupted her thoughts.

Passengers veered around them to get in, but Anja and Susanne stood without moving, facing each other.

“Thanks for going with me,” Anja finally said. “To Paperworld and to the restaurant.”

“My pleasure. I think it was really, um, productive.” Susanne shuffled her feet. “Kind of fun too. I learned a lot, so now we should be ready to—”

“Are you getting in?” the streetcar driver asked.

“Yes. Sorry.” Anja climbed into the streetcar and then turned back toward Susanne. “See you on Monday,” she called through the closing doors.

As the streetcar accelerated down the street, Anja dropped into an empty seat and looked through the window at the lone figure on the sidewalk until she could no longer see her.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10