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likin’.”
    â€œWhy yes, yes I did. Thank you.”
    He looked down at his almost naked body. “I guess I need to be puttin’ on some clothes as it’s gettin’ close to suppertime. If you’re plannin’ on goin’ outside, you can tell Beulah I’m ready to eat.”
    After one last appraising look, he stepped back into his room and closed the door.
    On suddenly unsteady legs, Kathleen made her way to the vegetable garden.
    â€œMrs. Conroy, your husband. He said he’s ready to eat.”
    Her mother-in-law wiped her calloused hands on her skirt. “I was hopin’ he’d sleep longer than this. I reckon I’d better get in there and start supper. It ain’t gonna cook by itself.”
    She picked up her hoe and walked away from the vegetables toward Kathleen. “Ain’t you got nothin’ else to wear except that fancy outfit and them high heels? Clothes like that ain’t good for nothin’ round here, except maybe for church.”
    â€œWhy yes, yes I do. I’ll just freshen up and then change into something more comfortable. I have some sandals and a dress.”
    She stayed in the bathroom a long time, splashing the cool water on her face and letting it run over her arms. When she looked in the tiny cracked mirror over the sink, the same face she’d always had stared back at her. It comforted her. She’d almost expected to have metamorphosed into something entirely different from the Kathleen McCreadie she’d known.
    She whispered to her reflection. “Come on Kath, don’t go to pieces. It won’t do a bit of good.” She even winked at herself, then, because it helped, gave the face in the mirror a great big smile of encouragement.
    Back in her room, she hung the precious blue dress and jacket in the wardrobe, or chiffarobe as her mother-in-law had called it. Had it been just a couple of days since she and Georgina had scampered up the stairs to the second floor in Macy’s looking for that special outfit to impress Bob’s parents? With a wry smile Kathleen realized the joke was on her. After she’d changed into a soft pink cotton dress and sandals, she tried to think of something positive. Bob would be home in a few days, maybe even as soon as tomorrow. She’d stick this out until he arrived. He’d see they couldn’t stay here.
    In the kitchen, her mother-in-law was preparing the meal.
    â€œAll right, here I am,” Kathleen said, in as cheerful a voice as she could manage.
    â€œThat looks some better. I tell you girl, I’m having a hard time understandin’ what you’re sayin’. You’ll have to be speakin’ slower so’s I’ll know. How about givin’ them black-eyed peas a stir and turn them turnip greens down just a tad.”
    â€œI don’t think I’ve ever had turnip greens,” Kathleen said, searching for some middle ground. “Do you mean the tops of the turnips?”
    â€œYeah. The turnips didn’t amount to much this year. I got a few good messes of greens though.” Mrs. Conroy shook her head. “I can’t believe you’ve never eaten them. Are you gonna be in for a treat.”
    The screen door flew open and a girl who was obviously Selma breezed into the room. She was pretty in a flashy sort of way. Her frizzy dyed red hair was piled on top of her head and huge red hoops dangled from each ear. Her body-hugging skirt had a long slit up the side and the sleeveless top was cut in a deep V between her breasts.
    â€œHi Momma,” Selma said, a split-second before seeing Kathleen in the corner. “So, there you are. I work in Gus’s and saw you get off the bus. I watched you sittin’ on your suitcase outside for the longest time and just knew you must be Bobby’s wife. After you’d gone, Lonnie Pendleton came in and told me Freddie had brought you home in his pickup.”
    Kathleen bit her lip,