What Frees the Heart by Karen A Wyle

Author:Karen A Wyle
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Oblique Angles Press
Published: 2020-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Lying on his back, trying to catch his breath, Tom thanked the good Lord for the beauty and roundness and warmth of womankind. And for what fireworks a woman and man could set off together.

He’d been afeared that with Jenny upset like she’d been, things wouldn’t go so well. It had even crossed his mind to make his excuses and leave. But she’d made plain she didn’t want him to, and he couldn’t’ve got his money back anyhow. And in the end, it had all been way better’n all right.

He rolled over to look at Jenny, hoping she was feeling half as much in charity with the world as he was, and saw she was looking up at the ceiling and chewing on her lip a little with her front teeth. Not like she’d started fretting about the rich fellow’s cuff link again, but like she was pondering a question. Then she sat up and nodded like she’d figured out the answer. She reached over and ran a finger down his arm. “You know, I’ve been wishing you’d come in soon. Wishing hard.”

That made him sit up, quick enough he almost jostled her hand. She’d never said something like that before. What did she mean by it? Just that he gave her a good time, and wasn’t as smelly or homely or wrinkled as some of those she had to put up with? Or that she had some sort of other feelings?

Rather’n try to figure all that out right here and now, he gave the answer that wouldn’t change no matter what she meant. “Wish I could. But you know what keeps me from it.”

Jenny laid her hand flat on his arm, maybe so he’d know she wasn’t trying to get him stirred up again. “I know. Which is what gave me an idea.”

She had a different look on her face than what he’d ever seen. In another girl, he’d call it . . . shy? In case that’s how she was feeling, he put his free hand on hers and pressed a little to reassure her. “What’s your idea?”

She hesitated and then said kind of quiet, “When you come here and spend coin you’ll likely miss, I could pay you back some of it. I’ve saved up a little money. Not a whole lot — and I might need some of it for . . . .” She faltered, took a deep breath, and then went on, “— for something I might be wanting to do. I don’t know if what I can spare’ll be enough. But it’d help, at least.”

She still had that shy look, but hopeful along with it. Could he take her money? It didn’t seem right, if she was trying to save up just like he was. “What’d it mean to you, day to day, if you had less coin? Aside from saving up? What do you have to pay for here?”

Jenny scooted closer and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Not so very much.

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