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"I demand to knohy you quit the paper!"

Maryanne refused to be intimidated "I already explained that I had another job"

"Obviously you’re doing so you’re too asha illegal Besides, I happen to like what I do, and I’ve ed to live entirely on what I make, which is no small feat I’m happy, Dad, really happy" She tried to force some cheerful enthusiasm into her voice, but unfortunately she didn’t entirely succeed How she wished she could brag about selling her articles Surely she’d receive word soon!

"If you’re so pleased about this change in jobs, then why do you see the conversation from an extension

"I--I’m fine, really I a true--"

"I don’t like the sound of this," her father interrupted inment for you It see and moved back to--"

"Dad, I refuse to quit now"

"I want you to ot one hell of a lot of explaining to do"

"It seems to me," Maryanne said after a moment of strained silence, "that we should both take time to cool down and think this over before one of us says or does soret"

"I’-distance wires threatened to i

"Daddy, I love you and Mom dearly, but I think it would be best if we both slept on this I’ up now, not to be rude, but because I don’t think this conversation is acco"

"Maryanne…Maryanne, don’t you dare--"

She didn’t allow hiue with him when he was in this fraret as she replaced the receiver Knowing her father would ied the phone

Now that her fa at the Review, everything would change And not for the better Her father would hound her until she was forced to tell him she’d taken a job as a waitress Once he discovered that, he’d hit the roof

Still thinking about what had happened, she put on her flannel pyja physical schedule she kept, sleeping had never been a problerown accusto fan of his presence She often lay aondering how his hts she even fantasized that he’d let her read the esture of trust

But Nolan wasn’t at his typewriter this evening He was giving a speech Closing her eyes, she ie dinner crowd How she would have enjoyed being in the audience! She knew beyond a doubt that his eyes would have sought her out…

Instead she was spending the night alone She lay with her eyes wide open; every time she started to drift off, some small noise would jerk her into wakefulness She finally had to ad to hear the sounds of Nolan’s return

So hours, Maryanne did eventually fall asleep She woke at six to the fa on his typewriter

She threw on her robe, thrust her feet into the fuzzy slippers and began pacing, her ed on the wall separating their two apart woke me up!" Which, of course, wasn’t fair or even particularly true But she’d spent a fretful night thinking about hih

Her family had found out she’d quit her job and all hell was about to break loose Ti to do so--and it was clear she’d have to be the one--she’d need to do it soon

"Just go back to bed," Nolan shouted

"Not on your life, Nolan Ada hoise it was to confront him now, Maryanne stormed out of her apartment dressed as she was, and beat hard on his door

Nolan opened it alht before, without the jacket and cummerbund The sleeves of his shirt were rolled past his elbows and the top three buttons were open His dishevelested he hadn’t been to bed

"What now?" he de too loud?"

"We need to talk," she stated calmly as sheat the door "Why don’t you come in and make yourself at home?" he e of his sofa and waited until he turned to face her "So?" she asked with cheerful derision "How’d your hot date go?"

"Fine" He so for dinner? The Four Seasons? Fullers?" She named two of the best restaurants in town "By the way, do I know Prudence?"

"No," he answered with sharp impatience

"I didn’t think so"

"Maryanne--"

"I don’t suppose you have coffee made?"

"It’s made" But he didn’t offer her any The fact that he was still standing by the door suggested he wanted her out of his ho since learned to ignore the obvious