"Eva?" Maryl covered her eyes in embarra.s.sment. "Sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"Obviously!"

Eva's call suddenly clicked in her head and Maryl sat straight up in bed. "Oh, my G.o.d! I forgot group!"

"No one who needs it ever forgets," Eva laughed with genuine amus.e.m.e.nt. "I only called to make sure you were okay."

Maryl fell back on the bed. "I'm so sorry, Eva. I meant to come. I really did. I wanted to say goodbye to everyone."

"I told them you probably weren't coming back. They talked about it and decided that it was best this way and asked me to convey their good wishes. Besides, we had three new members tonight and I'm not sure you would have had a place to sit."

"Still," Maryl objected guiltily, "it wasn't my intention to just drop out like that."

"Get over it," Eva laughed. "Tell me: whom were you expecting to call?"

Maryl's face grew warm. "She's here."

"Who? The woman from the camping trip?"

"Her name is Robin. She moved here."

"Just like that?"

Maryl smiled. "Just like that. She contacted me the day after I talked to you last. She's got a good job and a place to live and she swears she's here to stay."

"How do you feel about that?"

"Terrified and excited all at once."

"Well, I'll be."

"I'm trying to be cautious," Maryl admitted, "but it's hard. It's almost impossible to think past the pull I feel for her."

"Congratulations are in order then. I'm happy for you, Maryl. You deserve to be happy. I hope things work out between the two of you."

"Thanks." Their last talk popped into her head. "How are things with Kirsten?"

"Well, like you I'm trying to be cautious. She has an appointment with the doctor you told me about in a few weeks and she's having a hard time keeping her hopes reasonable, but she seems to be more alive lately. There is a support group, but she has to see the doctor first and get a referral to it. I think she's looking forward to that almost more than anything. She doesn't feel so alone anymore."

"Have you told her how you feel about her?"

"Not in so many words, but I think she's finally aware of it. By the way, she asked me to tell you that regardless of what happens with the doctor, she's grateful for your help. So am I."

"I'm surprised you told her that you talked to me."

"I love her, Maryl. For there to be any hope at all, I had to tell her."

Maryl felt foolish. "I'll never discuss it with another person, Eva. Tell her that?"

"She came to that conclusion on her own, but I will."

"You know, I usually have a little Christmas party every year. I haven't set a date yet, but I'd love it if the two of you would come."

"Really? That would be great."

"I'll call you when I've got a date for it."

"I look forward to it. It's unusual for former group members to become friends, but I'd really like it if we could stay in touch."

"Consider it done," Maryl said fondly.

"Well, I should let you go. I'd hate to make you miss Robin's call."

"Thanks, Eva."

She barely had time to process Eva's call when the phone rang a second time. Feeling lucky, she tried again. "Hey, gorgeous."

"Hey, beautiful. How was your day?"

"Good." Life made sense again. "Did you miss me?"

"I never realized before that missing someone could be a physical sensation."

Maryl's heart cramped painfully. "You poor thing. I feel that way, too, but I'd rather it be me feeling it than you."

"I want to see you more often. Even if it's only for a few minutes a day. Is that possible?"

Her heart melted. "Can I come see you at work tomorrow on my lunch?"

"Of course. You've been avoiding the store, haven't you?"

"Yes," Maryl admitted.

"Why?"

"I didn't want to interfere with your job and it's too hard to be that close and feel like I have to see you."

"I should have made this clearer," Robin sighed. "I want you to come to the store. Shop wherever you like, but please! Come see me every chance you get."

"Really?"

Robin gave her specific instructions on how to find her office. "When you come tomorrow, I'll have a visitor tag waiting for you at the customer service desk. In time, my employees will recognize you and you won't have any trouble. I'll also arrange for you to get my discount when you shop..."

"Wait...!"

"No," Robin said firmly. "It's a done deal. I can give you my discount if I want."

Maryl wasn't sure what to say. A discount would be nice, but it seemed like too much. She didn't want to feel indebted.

"If it really makes you uncomfortable," Robin offered, "you can fix me dinner now and then. That way the discount is for the food I eat."

"I don't have anything comparable to give to you."

"The discount doesn't come out my pocket, Maryl. It's just a courtesy from the store and it doesn't require any reciprocation on your part. Besides, I've got security mirrors for windows and I can see the whole store. I can sit up there in my office and watch you while you shop. It will drive me insane with want for you."

"How come whenever you want to give me something, or do something for me, you've always got selfish motives to justify it?"

"Call it a character flaw."

Maryl held up the bracelet and decided to give it to Robin when she saw her the next day. "I accept. On one condition."

"Uh oh."

She smiled. "I want to give you something and you can't bring up our money agreement."

"What did you get me?"

"You'll see."

Robin's door was partially open and Maryl stepped inside quickly in hopes that she would catch her unawares. Robin looked up from her desk and Maryl was surprised. "I didn't know you wore gla.s.ses."

Robin took them off and dropped them carelessly on her paperwork. "Only for reading." She stood up with a smile. "I feel like jumping around like a little kid. You look so good."

Maryl feigned doubt. "Can you even see me?"

Robin squinted back. "I see you just fine. Come here." She held her arms open and Maryl all but flung herself into them. "How long can you stay?" Robin asked.

Maryl held her watch up behind Robin's back. "Thirty-five minutes." Adjusting her arms to hold the slim body more firmly, Maryl settled in and let Robin's presence fill her up. "We definitely need to do this more often."

"Did you come with Janelle?"

Maryl shook her head. "She had errands to run."

"Errands?"

Robin's tone was curious and Maryl leaned back to see her face. She followed Robin's eyes out the windows. "What are you looking at?"

Robin stepped closer to the dark gla.s.s and pointed to the tables cl.u.s.tered near the deli. "She's right there."

Maryl spotted her at a table with a red headed man. "Is that Jerry?"

"Yes. It's his day off today, so that looks like a date to me. She's been in here every day for the last two weeks talking to him. Didn't she tell you?"

"No." Maryl's evil twin emerged. "Her life is about to get very interesting."

"Be nice," Robin laughed. "Does she know you're here?"

"I doubt it."

Robin closed the office door and Maryl suppressed a shudder of antic.i.p.ation when she heard the lock engage. The arms that came around her from behind took her mind off her plans for Janelle. Leaning back, she turned her face up and closed her eyes as Robin kissed her. The phone was an unwelcome distraction. "Don't go away," Robin whispered to her.

Maryl sat down on the old love seat under the one-way mirrors and watched her as she spoke to someone named Greg. It sounded as if Greg were calling in sick and from Robin's words on the subject it was obvious that Greg was sick often and not likely to return unscathed. She smiled as Robin hung up. "You're s.e.xy when you boss people around."

Robin stifled a grin and dropped down next to her. "I'd be more than happy to boss you around any time you like."

Maryl laughed as she snuggled closer. "You're welcome to try. This little couch is cozy. Your idea?"

"No. I think it's been here longer than either of us has been alive. So, where's my present? I'm dying of curiosity."

Maryl prayed that she was doing the right thing, but there was one more thing she just had to know before she could hand it over. "Um...Do you consider yourself to be butch or femme?"

"Definitely both. Why?"

"Just making sure." She reached into her purse and pulled out the jeweler's box. Placing it in Robin's open hand she explained, "I didn't go looking for this. I was just walking by and it screamed your name."

"What is it?"

"Open it," Maryl urged.

Robin lifted the lid and sighed. "Oh, Maryl. It's lovely."

"The stones match your eyes," Maryl pointed out.

Robin's slender fingers gently lifted the gold bracelet from its bed and held it up to the light. "It's beautiful, baby." She clutched it to her chest and leaned over to kiss her.

Maryl could see that she was on the verge of tears and could not have asked for a response more satisfying. "I've never seen you wear jewelry. You don't have to wear it if you..."

"Of course, I'll wear it! Here, put it on me?"

Maryl took the bracelet and fastened it around Robin's left wrist. "If you like jewelry, why don't you wear it?"

Robin held her hand out, shaking the bracelet and admiring the way it looked on her arm. "I have a strange relations.h.i.+p with accessories. It never occurs to me to buy myself rings and such. When I do have them I usually forget to put them on. At the moment I don't own any jewelry. When I left Tammy I left her all the jewelry I had. She was the one who bought it for me and I didn't want any of it because I a.s.sociated it all with her. Like you and this bracelet. Every time I look at it or wear it, I'll think about you. I didn't want to think about Tammy anymore."

"So, if I bought you jewelry you would wear it?"

Robin looked at her with amus.e.m.e.nt. "Yes, I would wear it, but if you buy me anything else I'm going to consider our agreement about money as void."

Maryl smiled. She had the information she needed. "I'm glad you like it."

Robin scooted down on the couch and fit herself under Maryl's arm. "Thank you, Maryl. I love it."

Maryl smiled into her hair. Robin was still admiring her wrist and Maryl slid her fingers over the delicate forearm in a deliberately sensual caress. "Are you free tomorrow night?" Robin nodded against her shoulder. "I would love to cook dinner for you." Robin tilted her head back and Maryl thrilled at the vulnerability she saw in the golden eyes.

"Sounds wonderful."

Maryl brushed her fingers over Robin's long throat. "Is tomorrow night okay for you?"

Robin hummed in response.