“I know,” Tilly whispered.

“We haven’t even spoken about when we’ll see each other next. I know that you probably have a lot on your mind tonight, what with seeing Declan and telling him that we’re…” She stopped herself short. Pointing out the obvious would only make Tilly anxious. She exhaled sharply, suddenly anxious herself. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, let’s fix this. Let’s figure it out now.”

Now wasn’t a good time. In any moment, Sister Ruth would be knocking on the door to drive over to Mornington for dinner with Tilly and Declan’s family before the play. Now, however, was all they had.

Tilly sighed. “I’m sorry. I thought you would have brought it up by now and when you didn’t I…” She twisted her ankle to help Kate slip the material over her heel. “I didn’t know where to start.”

So they’d both been too cowardly to upset the bliss they’d created in chaos. Kate’s throat constricted. “That’s okay.” She forced a smile and set Tilly’s covered foot against her thigh, like a footrest. “I’ve felt the same way. I didn’t want to pressure you. I mean, I thought maybe you’d want to go over to the mainland at some point to talk to him, and then you never went so…I wasn’t sure.”

A soft, strange sound tore from the back of Tilly’s throat. “I feel like a terrible person,” Tilly mumbled. “I keep thinking of those poor little children.” Kate brought the top of the stocking to Tilly’s knee, and she lifted her thigh for Kate to slip her hands higher. “Once on our way from the city, when Lily was sick in the car, her father couldn’t seem to help. She kept looking up at me like she needed me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Like I was the only one left on Earth who could love her the way she needed.”

I need you, Kate wanted to say. She smoothed the elastic garter high around Tilly’s thigh. Just as she was about to pull away, Tilly covered her hand, stopping her. Their eyes locked. Tilly seemed to search her gaze for understanding.

I do understand, Kate wanted to say. But it was hard to throw Tilly a buoy when she was in desperate need of a lifeline too. Kate dropped her gaze and began gathering the second stocking into a doughnut. Again, she cupped her hand around the back of Tilly’s bare heel and encouraged her foot into the stocking. “It’s not your job to sacrifice your own happiness for somebody else’s, Til.”

They were quiet as Kate worked the nylon up her leg. When the elastic garter was secured to the top of Tilly’s thigh, she pulled her hands away from hot, soft skin and got to her feet. Jealousy walked her across the room. With her back to the dresser, she faced Tilly. “This is about Sister Tessie’s dream last night.”

Tilly’s eyes widened. “No, it’s not.”

She shifted against the dresser, the sequins at the hem of Lily’s dress scratching at her bare calves. “It is.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You were fine this morning when we woke up together, and then I noticed you were quiet on the ferry, when we were picking up the car…”