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Show CHAPTER FOURTEEN That first week back at work, without Steve being there, was the hardest. It wasn't so bad when she was waiting on customers, and it was a busy week, the second busiest week of the year, in fact, what with all the Christmas money. But when there was a slack moment, and she had time to think, she would catch herself wondering about him. She had to guard against that. And then there was lunch. She ate only at the bowling alley. She would have gone somewhere else, entirely new, if there had been any place close by. But there was not. A couple of times, Roger met her for lunch. That helped, it was diverting. She was tempted once or twice to talk about Steve, but then she did not. And afterwards she was glad that she had not. All he knew was the delivery boy had quit, and that Mr. Richards was looking for a replacement. Roger said he was thinking about applying for the job. But finally, he decided not to. School would start the following week, he had the lead in the next play-the doctor in Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. It would take all his time. She was relieved that he did not take the job. It wouldn't be a good thing, to be around him here at work. It would not quite be as much hers-the job-if he were working here also. So the week passed, that strange week between Christmas and New Year's when the world seems anticlimactic-in the middle of a hangover, and getting set for another. Those first few evenings, everyone was nervous at closing time. Mr. Richards even locked up fifteen minutes early, and then stood at the entrance, letting anyone in that came up |