see some of her mother’s work. He told her the book was priced at $30.00. Lara must have made a face at the price because Wyn smiled broadly and said, “That’s probably as much as you make in a week. It’s the right book, but the price isn’t right for you today. You could buy it on layaway. Five Dollars a week and you could have it by Thanksgiving. Plus, I could see you in the store every Friday when you come to make a payment. I would like that. Maybe you could bring me a sandwich too, or we could go out.” Wow, thought Lara, I’m happy I stopped in here. “Should I put this book on layaway for you, Lara?” Wyn said. I like the way he says my name, not too sharp and with a slight roll on the ‘r’, like a burr, thought Lara. “Yes, please do,” said Lara. “We’ll see each other next Friday, midday. I can’t leave the store at midday but we’ll probably work something out, don’t you think,” said Wyn. “Call the store if you need to talk to me.” Impulsively, Lara wrote down her bank phone number on one of the index cards she always carried. Wyn looked at it and said “No ‘u’ in Lara, is that why you seem calm and even-tempered?” Surprised, she simply said “One of my grandmothers was Russian.” Lara had never felt she was missing a ‘u’ until Wyn pointed it out. Now she wondered if she had found a ‘u’.
    Bank at the bank, Lara asked her boss if she could take her lunch between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. Mr. Stiles asked, “Do plan to get married during lunch?” As Lara began explaining, he smiled and said, “Enjoy Center City while you’re young.” Ever the efficient operative, Lara called Leary’s Bookstore and asked to speak to Wyn. He was at lunch until three o’clock. Actually, Wyn wasn’t eating lunch, he was standing at Broad and Walnut Streets admiring Lara’s building and thinking about one of its occupants. Lara reached him on the phone before she left for the day. It was amazing how accurate and lifelike his voice sounded on the phone. She could envision him right in front of her. They agreed to have lunch next Friday at two o’clock. She specified Dutch because she didn’t know how poor he was. That he didn’t object meant he really was poor or that he thought she was a ‘modern woman’, which she thought she was. Lara knew it was best to go slow but she wanted to see him immediately, not a week from now. Over a very restless weekend, Lara decided to visit him at his store on Monday to ask about the butterfly book, about any book, to have him explain the deposit policy, to listen to him explain anything.
    Lara was amused when Wyn once inquired about why she frequently wore two or three rings. “I’m making up for lost time,” replied Lara. “My mother wouldn’t allow me to wear any rings until I earned my high school graduation ring.” Wyn had sense enough not to ask Lara why her actual ring finger was always bare. I bet that you have no trouble dissuading unwanted interest from men even in the absence of an engagement or wedding ring,” said Wyn. “You could win and lose that bet, Wyn,” said Lara.
    Lara ended her recollections and speculations because the West Chester train had arrived at Suburban Station. Lara walked along Filbert Street to the Reading Terminal Market. Lara felt her little suitcase getting heavier as she walked.