The stores had barely opened when Claire and Sarry made their way into the city. Sarry had insisted on using her father's white stretch limo to get them to their favorite shopping spot in the city, Filene's. The pair made the rounds until lunch, when they collapsed at a little out-of-the-way café. Sarry led them to the table by the window. The short curtain blocked out some of the drizzly gray day with a cheery red gingham print. The interior shone brightly, with white wainscoting and yellow walls. The sounds of the other occupants made it lively.

"Oh, I can't stop thinking of that pink muslin," Sarry sighed as she dropped on a chair.

A soda-jerk approached them at their table. "What can I get ya?"

"Just a coffee," Sarry grumbled at him, lighting her cigarette.

"I'll have a coffee," Claire said, taking up her own chair. "What pies do you have?"

"Pecan, apple, cherry, peach, lemon, chocolate-" "Claire, those things'll catch up with you," Sarry warned.

"Coconut cream," the man finished.

"Make it tea and give me some peach pie." Claire ignored Sarry.

"Certainly, miss," the man said, scribbling on his pad. "Will that be all?"

"It's your funeral," Sarry said as she puffed on her cigarette. She flashed the man one of her electric smiles. "Yes, thanks."

"It'll be up in just a minute." He reddened, grinning.

Claire shucked her jacket and draped it over the vacant chair beside her. She set her small purse on the seat and fished for her compact and lipstick.

"I can't stop thinking about that dress," Sarry whined again.

"Why didn't you just buy it, Sarry? We both know you can afford it. It's not like you won't eat if you did," Claire said, applying lipstick.

"I know, kid. Sometimes I think I just like to torture myself."

"You're not kidding," Claire replied. She powdered her nose with precise pats, then stuffed her compact and lipstick away. "And anyone who's with you."

The soda-jerk returned, balancing a small tray that carried a little tin teapot and two cups and saucers. In his free hand he held a pot of coffee. He set the tray before them.

"Be right back with that pie."

Claire raised her eyebrow but said nothing. Her attention went to Sarry, who was still mourning the dress that got away.

"Well, this turned out to be a stunner," Sarry said about the gray day. "What a welcome home, huh?"

"It doesn't matter, Sarry." Claire smiled at the drizzle and folded her arms on the table. She shrugged. "I'm a New York girl anyway. I'll be back there in a couple days and forget all this."

Sarry said nothing, letting her cigarette burn to her fingertips. The impression in the woman's eyes pushed Claire back.

"Say! Why don't you come with me?" Claire asked, in hope of keeping Sarry from speaking her mind.

The server came back to the table with a large slice of peach pie. He set it before Claire and left them to their conversation.

"I'd love to," Sarry said. "But I can't leave that dress."

The girls regarded each other as the joke simmered. Their laughter filled the café and soon all eyes were on them.

Claire poured the tea into her cup. Sarry sipped her coffee. The occupants of the café went back to their own business.

"So how was last night?" Sarry asked, lowering her voice. She flicked her cigarette ashes into a tray on the table.

"I could barely sleep. I must have been too tired," Claire replied, not catching her friend's meaning.

Out of the window, Claire saw a car roll toward the end of the street opposite the café. The vehicle parked several yards from the corner in perfect view. Claire discerned the golden-head of the driver as he climbed out and then placed a hat over his shining locks. It was Carsten. Claire gaped, not expecting to see him before dinner. She wondered why he would be in the area when he'd left with her father that morning for the factory.

"You're hopeless," Sarry laughed. She took her coffee spoon and stole some pie from Claire's plate. She shoved the spoon in her mouth quickly. "I was hoping he'd snuck into your room and had his way with you."

"I wasn't finished," Claire continued, quite distracted.

Sarry failed to notice the unnamed subject of their conversation just yards away. Instead, she laughed to herself over her own comments. Then her eyes went from the pie to Claire, to the rain-spattered window and back. She stole more pie, quickly eating it before she got caught.

"I went downstairs to get more of the mousse the cook served," Claire said, seeing Carsten enter the nearest building. She shifted her gaze to her pie. "He was on the phone."

"Is that a crime?"

Claire didn't respond. She studied her plate with knitted brows. She shook her head.

"The crime is you stole my pie," Claire said after a long silence. "I was going to tell you that he has no family left but his grandmother and she's sick in England."

"Tearjerker," Sarry said, taking more pie. She licked her spoon and raised her eyebrows at Claire. "But did he get into your room?"

"I feel horrible for brushing him off last night." Claire ignored her. "It wasn't right of me."

"Coming around, are we?" Sarry grinned. She sipped her coffee and tried not to giggle.

"I don't know about that, Sarry. I just could've been more friendly is all."

"A lot friendlier," Sarry said.

Claire sipped her tea. Her mind went over what she'd just seen. Why would Carsten come into the city when he ought to be at work with her father? Her eyes returned to the window as she lowered her cup to the table. She wondered what building stood across the way. From her angle, the signs were illegible.

"What's buzzin', kittens?"

How he'd found them there, neither of the women knew. Claire rolled her eyes to Eddie. He smiled down at them with his too-large teeth. He stood at their table in a tennis getup; he looked ridiculous in such an outfit on a rainy day.

"Eddie," Sarry said. "Just in time! We were just leaving."

Sarry rose to her feet, crushing her cigarette in the ashtray.

"Can you be a swell and get those boxes for me?" Sarry asked, blocking Eddie from Claire. She grinned at him. "The car's out front," she added.

"Sure," Eddie said, stymied once more.

Claire took the cue and shoveled the last bits of her pie into her mouth. She washed it down with some hot tea. Opening her purse, she took out a few coins and placed them on the table to cover the tab. She got to her feet and quickly donned her jacket. Just as she did, Sarry grabbed her arm and led her out.

"Let's go get that dress," Sarry said, taking on a devious air.

The girls climbed into Sarry's waiting limousine. The driver started the engine while Eddie packed their purchases in the back. He closed the trunk with a loud thunk.

"Gilley," Sarry called to the driver. "Take us back to the store."

"Yes, Miss Kelly," the driver replied.

Eddie reached for the door, expecting to climb in and join the women when Gilley pressed the gas pedal and steered the car away. Sarry and Claire burst with laughter. The driver grinned ear from ear, noticing their appreciation from the rearview mirror.

"Oh, Gilley," Sarry said breathless. "Remind me to make Daddy give you a raise!"

Claire shook her head. She twisted to see through the rear window. Eddie stood with his hands up in the air. His mouth moved around what she imagined were quite profane curses. A motion across the street caught Claire's eyes. Carsten emerged from the doorway he had entered minutes before. She saw him hesitate at the sight of Eddie carrying on. Claire squinted to read the sign behind him and gathered that he'd visited a lawyer. Claire settled back against the seat bewildered. What would Carsten want with lawyers? The factory kept a man on retainer, so his presence at another firm, especially one that looked so derelict, was quite unusual. Then again, with how thoughtless her father grew, it really might be no wonder. Perhaps he solicited assistance of a more personal nature. Still, he had the company lawyer. Claire's stomach twisted with uncertainty.

"What is it, doll?" Sarry asked.

Claire's complexion paled. Nothing about Carsten made much sense, except when he explained his peculiarities away.

"Nothing." Claire waved her off.

"You look like you're gonna faint."

"Just a touch of vertigo from looking at Eddie standing in the rain." Claire half smiled through her lie.

Sarry searched Claire's face and laughed, believing it.