Gladys sat up and pulled a cigarette and lighter from her bag. She lit it and took a long drag before exhaling the smoke. Her ruby-red lipstick left a ring on the paper. “I don’t kiss and tell, dahling.”

Margaret rolled her eyes. As much as she could believe it of Gladys, she could equally believe that Gladys was pulling their legs.

Keep ’em guessing, she’d once said. Margaret supposed that included her friends.

“Back to you, doll,” continued Gladys. “I’m serious. Words are nice. And you have a weird affinity for them that he seems to share. But talk is cheap, as they say. So, yes. I stand by what I said. How do you know you will want him like that? And even more importantly, if anything truly serious came of it, do you know if he would accept having a wife who works? Because despite the hours, I can tell that you enjoy making a paycheck.”

“That’s getting way ahead of ourselves, don’t you think?” Margaret asked. William had mentioned wanting to meet her. He hadn’t exactly included a diamond ring in the envelope. It was entirely natural that two friends would want to meet.

“Oh, let’s be serious,” Gladys continued. “You and Dottie are cut from the same cloth. You’ll want the white-gown wedding in a chapel with your family and friends all around to cheer you on. You’re not the type to play around. The world is on the precipice of improving for women and I’d hate to see both of my best friends miss the opportunities that are coming. I’m just throwing some cold water on the situation and telling you to proceed with eyes wide open.”

“Says the woman who is about to be bitten by a crab.”

“Shoo!” Gladys jumped and looked where Margaret was pointing, and indeed, a sand crab was crawling precariously close to her leg. She picked up the Saturday Evening Post she’d laid down and scooped the creature up, tossing it gently a few feet away.

Dottie propped herself up on her elbows and pulled her sunglasses down to her nose. “This might be the only time it happens as long as I live, but I have to say that I agree with Gladys. You deserve every happiness, Margaret, and I hope and pray that William is the one who will provide you with that. If that’s what you want. Looking back, it may well be a dreamy story to tell your grandchildren. How you fell in love through corresponding during the war. But don’t give away your heart too quickly. It’s too precious a thing.”