“Bay, you ready to give me your two cents?” Wyn said.
    “I’ve told you my opinion of marriage,” Bay said. “It doesn’t work anymore. It doesn’t work with equals because none are and it doesn’t work with a chief and an indian because people change.” “Besides, you should wait, it won’t hurt you to wait awhile,” Bay went on, “seven weeks is nowhere long enough to get to know each other.”
    “We meet for breakfast or lunch most days,” Wyn said. “I’m sure Lara’s the one for me.”
    “Can you honestly say you think she’s ready to make such a big decision when you haven’t even met her folks,” Bay said. “I’ll meet them after we’re engaged,” Wyn said.“Lara’s living on her own, she’ll make this decision on her own anyway.”
    “It might work eventually,” Bay said, “but your jumping the gun now is more likely to scare her off.”
    “Hell, Bay, I got the ring. I’m going to take my shot. It’s do or die for me tomorrow,” said Wyn.
    OK, Wyn, no one can say you aren’t game, you always were,” said Bay. “Call me tomorrow and let me know if you’ll need a best man or a pallbearer.”
    Lara woke up happy even though it was six a.m. on her day off. The temperature was in the low 30s but she couldn’t wait to start the day. She skipped breakfast to avoid waking up her roommate, Emily. She was glad that Emily was still sleeping otherwise Lara might tell her the truth about this trip. Like some secret agent, Lara had told Emily and her parents, that she was taking the train to Cape May. A white lie, she reasoned, to save them worry. She was to meet Wyn at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia at eight a.m. They didn’t asked if she was traveling with anyone and Lara didn’t tell. Last night Lara had decided what to wear and what to pack. Her choices were made easier by Wyn’s relaxed attitude. He said he liked everything she wore and she really believed him. Lara had the urge to show up for a date with him some day in a completely goofy outfit just be hear what he would say. Probably, “You look great, Lara.” She decided to wear her white cable knit sweater, calf length skirt, black knee socks, and her well worn oxfords. She always wore the golden locket and chain her mother had given her and her good lock rabbet brooch with this sweater. But for a white turtleneck shirt, this was the exact outfit she wore for her college yearbook photo less than a year ago. That seemed like ages ago now. She was also wearing her winter coat because it was likely to be colder or windy in Cape May. Lara also took her dispatch-style pocketbook so she wouldn’t have to carry miscellaneous items in her pockets. Now that she had everything ready to go, she realized that she had squandered her time. She would have to hurry to make the 7:08 a.m. train to Philadelphia. It was a six block walk to the West Chester train station but there would be almost no traffic this morning and she wouldn’t lose any time to traffic lights. Lara marched east along Miner Street toward the station. At Miner & Sharon Streets she looked for the white cat who greeted her every weekday morning as she walked for her train. He must have slept in because of the holiday. His loss. She next imagined ...