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between, were closely examined. The kitchen, however, received the most attention. It was large, with modern appliances, all sparkling clean.
    â€œThis is beautiful!” Ginger exclaimed.
    â€œI’m glad you like it. I’ve designed my dream home, but since my move to Mission Creek was temporary, I didn’t see any point in building it yet. This condo has been fine for me.”
    She gave him a strange look. Then she asked, “Which room shall I use?”
    â€œEither one. But I think the second one is larger. Tomorrow we’ll pack up your apartment and see if we can get your deposit back. Did you pay first and last month?”
    She nodded.
    â€œOkay, I’ll talk to the manager. I’m going out to get your bags,” he said, and turned toward the door.
    â€œI can go get them.”
    â€œNo, honey, that’s another thing husbands do.” And he disappeared.
    She sat down in the living room, unable to believeshe would be living in such a beautiful home. The slate-blue carpet was thick, two couches faced each other with a large square coffee table in between. Lamps and decorative items filled the room. Her mother’s apartment in New York City was dingy and small, nothing like this.
    â€œDid you decide which room you want?” Joe asked as he came in with her bags.
    â€œThe second room is fine.” She hurried over to open the door. “The bed in here is so pretty.” It was queen-size, with a beautiful comforter and pillows on it. She couldn’t wait to get in it.
    â€œThanks. Jenny picked out the coverlet. She said it reminded her of a flower garden.”
    â€œYes, it does,” she said a little stiffly. “Joe, will she understand about me? I do not want to cause you trouble.”
    He turned around to stare at her. “Jenny? Why wouldn’t she?”
    She shrugged her shoulders and sighed.
    â€œI should’ve taken the leftovers Mom offered. You’re exhausted and you ate hardly anything.” He turned and left her in the room by herself.
    She started to follow him, but she decided she’d apologized enough. Instead she decided to unpack. Her clothes barely made a dent in the deep bureau and roomy closet. She gathered clean underwear and her nightgown and deposited them in the connecting bath.
    She came back out and went into the living room again. “Is it okay if I take a bath?” She was solooking forward to it. Because the tub in her apartment was narrow and rusty, she had only taken showers since she’d come to Texas.
    â€œSure. I ordered pizza, by the way. It’ll fill you up so you can get a good night’s sleep. For breakfast tomorrow, I have cereal. But afterward we’ll go grocery shopping and get what you like.”
    â€œI can eat cereal.”
    Joe eyed her speculatively. “Ginger, earlier tonight did you think my brothers were teasing me because I didn’t have money?”
    She hesitated. “Maybe.”
    â€œHoney, they were teasing me because I don’t usually spend a lot of money. I have that reputation, but it’s only because there’s just me. I have money, I promise. Certainly enough to buy groceries.”
    â€œI can give you my rent money.”
    â€œNow, don’t start that again. I told you how marriages work. I pay the bills, okay?”
    She nodded, remembering the wifely duties he’d pointed out. She’d have to be sure she did everything as he wanted. To be able to live in such luxury for even a few months would be worth hard work.
    â€œGo get your bath and then come out. The pizza will be here by then.”
    He’d ordered pizza because he thought she might be hungry? That seemed the height of decadence. She loved pizza, but she only allowed herself to order it once a month, on her day off. Usually, she worked seven days a week. Harvey didn’t mind, and she’d been saving her money. When she worked, she gottwo meals at the club, and she