The next morning when I left to go to work, Mr. Bruun and Anita were on the front steps. They stood when I came out. Anita’s face was blurred as she turned away from me, wiped at her eyes. Her voice cracked as she went back in. “I’ll see you tonight, Marie.”
When the door closed, I turned to Mr. Bruun. “Is your cousin all right?”
“She will be. She’s had some trouble. I know she’ll be fine, though.” He reached toward my shoulder, then dropped his hands to his sides. “Can I walk you to work?”
Mr. Bruun accompanied me to and from the shop for the next three days. On the third evening, we were at the front door of my building, standing on the steps as we had each time, when he said, “I leave tomorrow to go home.” He moved toward me and I wondered if this was it, a proper first kiss, but he
