“I do.” Mrs. Trask stood in the doorway. “But you can’t study all the time. You should go out with Samuel and get some fresh air.”

“I can go out with him after this test is over. Honestly, Mother, I should think you’d want me to put all my energy into doing well on this exam. This could make the difference between graduating or not. I don’t understand why my seeing Sam is so important to you.”

“We’ve had this discussion before. That young man wants to marry you. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, he’s never going to die in war…” Her voice caught. “He has steady, reliable employment. What more do you want?”

I want to be in love. “I want to study. Please, close the door on your way out.”

“Don’t be rude, young lady.”

“I’m not being rude. I barely have time to breathe between studying and working at the drugstore. I’ll deal with Sam later, after the test.”

“What am I supposed to tell him when he comes calling?”

“Tell him the truth. I’m focused on schooling.”

“You are impossible, you know that?”

“So you keep telling me. Please let me study in peace.”

“Dinner will be on the table at six thirty. Don’t be late.”

“’Bye, Mother.”

When her mother left, Mary closed her eyes in relief. She knew she couldn’t avoid him forever, but at least for a little while, she could put him off.

Nora breathed deeply. Spring was in the air; she smelled it in the blossoms on the dogwood trees, in the grass that covered the fields of Central Park, and in the scent of the lilac bushes as she strolled past.

It felt good to be outside after being cooped up in the lab for so many hours. She almost felt human…almost. A good soak in the tub once she got back to her place would do the rest of the job.

“Nora. Hey, Nora!”

She wanted to keep walking, but she knew from experience that her nosy neighbor wouldn’t quit until she acknowledged her. “Hi, Bunny.”

“Something really official-looking came for you a little while ago. It’s from the War Department in Washington.”

Nora furrowed her brow. The idea of Bunny snooping through her mail was an ongoing source of irritation, but Bunny was waving the envelope in front of her like a matador waving a red cape in front of a bull.

“Thank you, Bunny.” Nora struggled not to snatch the envelope out of her hand. Instead, she waited patiently for Bunny to deliver it to her. Then she hustled up the stairs and into the building, ignoring the string of questions that followed her.