in the dimly lit hall.

I sank on my knees before him. And I pleaded for him to forgive me for not having told him about myself long ago even before we were married.

He lifted me to my feet. And with one arm around me to support me, he led me to the divan in his little room. We sat down together.

"There's nothing to forgive," he said. "And so much to thank you for."

Then he talked to me. And as he talked, I realized that just as he pointed out, my mistake was in trying to be as my family expected me to be, demanded me to be. Instead of being as nature patterned me.

"Darling Melba," Granger said. "I want you to have the courage to stop the false life. And begin the one for which nature designed you."

"It's too late," I said forlornly. ""The thought of any other person except Jan-." I sobbed.

He put his hand over mine. He said gently, "It isn't too late for you to live your own life."

At that moment I ceased thinking of myself. "Granger, I want you to be happy" I blurted. "How can I make you believe that?"

"I believe it," he soothed. "I won't be bitter. The memories you gave me are sweet. Maybe for a wife I need an older woman. Melba-the way I feel tonightmaybe I've been more fatherly toward you than husbandly. Anyway you can always count on me as a real friend."

9.9

This was the third time on this night that he had promised his friendship. Each time it had greatly strengthened me. Now my heart beats quickened as I wondered it it were true that he felt more fatherly than husbandly toward me. And I sincerely hoped, for his sake, that he did.

"God bless you," I said from the depths of my heart.

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He went into the kitchen and made coffee. When he brought it in and set it on the low table near the divan, I managed to drink a cupful with him. It steadied

me.

"If I'd only known earlier what I know now-how wrong it is to fight against nature's dictates." I was thinking aloud. "If I'd only known before I'd lost Jan." "Jan isn't the only one like yourself," Granger comforted.

"No. But Jan is the only one for me," I insisted. "Maybe she feels you're the only one for her," he encouraged.

My heart lifted....then it dropped again. "But.......... she's never tried to reach me-since-

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"Maybe she has." Granger took a cigarette from the smoking stand and put it between his lips.

I leaned over, struck a match and lit it for him. The way I used to light cigarettes for Jan. Funny, until this moment I'd never lighted a cigarette for Granger, Because somehow it seemed being unfaithful to Jan. But now that he understood me, accepted me as I was, and promised me his friendship-I could light his cigarette.

After I went back to bod I slept as if I were drugged.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The next evening Granger had news for me. News that was to change my life... He'd been to see my Mother and had a frank talk with her.

I sat beside him on the divan in the living room. "Melba," he said. "Listen carefully."

I listened with my ears and my heart. "Jan has been in contact with your Mother, often."

I pressed my hands across my mouth to hold back a

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