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This was her new life

She walked directly to theand gazed out "I’ve got a great view of Volunteer Park," she announced to her friend She hadn’t noticed it the day Nolan had shown her the apartment "I had no idea the park was so close" She turned toward Carol, as still standing in the threshold, her expression one of shock and dis?"

"Good heavens," Carol whispered "You don’t really intend to live here, do you?"

"It isn’t so bad," Maryanne said with a s "I’ve got lots of ideas on how to decorate the place" She leaned back against the sill, where e paint was chipped away to reveal an even dingier grey-green "What it needs is a fresh coat of paint, soht and cheerful"

"It’s not even half the size of your other place"

"There was a lot of wasted space at ht privately, but she wouldn’t have hbor?" Carol asked in a grudging voice "He’s the one who started this The least he could do is offer a little help"

Straightening, Maryanne brushed the dust from her palms and looked away "I didn’t ask hi to move in"

Nolan was a subject Maryanne wanted to avoid She hadn’t talked to hiht he’d kissed her He’d stopped off at The Seattle to leave the apartreement with the doorman Max had promptly delivered both The implication was obvious; Nolan didn’t want to see her and was, in fact, doing his best to avoid her

Clearly he disapproved of the way things had developed on the pier that night She supposed he didn’t like kissing her Then again, perhaps he did Perhaps he liked it too much for his oft-lamented "peace of mind"

Maryanne kne she felt about it She couldn’t sleep for two nights afterward Every ti her in his ar couple from a 1940s movie She remembered the way he’d scowled down at her when he’d broken off the kiss and how he’d struggled to ht of the incident And she re her another story

"Hey, lady, is this the place where I’ the boxes?" A lanky boy of about fourteen stood in the doorway, carrying a large cardboard box

"Y-yes," Maryanne said, recognizing the container as one of her own "How’d you know to bring it up here?"

"Mr Adauys he’d play basketball with us if we’d help unload the truck"

"Oh How nice I’ at Nolan’s unexpected thoughtfulness

"Nice to meet you, lady Nohere do you want me to put this?"

Maryanne pointed to the kitchen "Just put it in the corner over there" Before she finished, a second and third boy appeared, each hauling boxes

Maryanne slipped past the area behind the building Nolan was standing in the back of Carol’s husband’s pickup, noisily distributing cardboard boxes and dire warnings He didn’t see her until she moved closer When he did, he fell silent, a frown on his face

"Hi," she said, feeling a little shy "I caone up and left the truck unattended," he barked, still frowning "Anyone could’ve walked off with this stuff"

"We just arrived"

"We?"

"Carol Riverside andwill it be before the elevator’s fixed?"

"Not soon"

She nodded Well, if he’d hoped to discourage her, she wasn’t going to let hihts of stairs every day! It onderful aerobic exercise In the past she’d paid good money to attend a health club for the sa boxes and handing thee boys "I’e this for you"

"Are you kidding?" she joked "Only rich people usecompanies"