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"Thanks for a great day," he said. "I guess I better go to bed. I've got to get up early and drive back."

"You're staying only one day!" I cried. He nodded. "But . . . can't you stay one more?"

"You've got a lot to do here, Pearl. Your family needs you. You can't be spending your time entertaining me, and I do have to get back."

"But your visit's too short. I don't know when I'll be able to get up to Cypress Woods. Pierre won't be home for a few more days and--"

"I'm sure you'll come when you can. I'll call you, and you can call me." He stood up. Reluctantly I did so, too. We held hands and walked back into the house. The lights had been turned low. Without speaking, we ascended the stairway and stopped at Jack's room.

"Is there anything you need?" I asked.

"No. be fine. Thanks again for a great day," he said and kissed me. Then he went into his room and closed the door. I looked down the hallway toward Mommy and Daddy's closed door. They were probably asleep in each other's arms by now. I sighed and went to my own bedroom. After I changed into my nightgown, I slipped under the cool sheet and stared at the ceiling.

Had Mommy been right? Had my great love affair been stimulated only by my vulnerability and emotional strain when I was in the bayou? I felt the cold tears filling my eyes and turned over to bury my face in the pillow.

Then I thought about the night Jack and I had spent together in the old Cajun mansion, how passionate and loving we were with each other. I remembered how wonderful and happy I felt when he found me in the swamp and how loving and tender he was afterward.

I couldn't bear the ache in my heart. Telling myself I wouldn't stand for it, I decided to get up and go to Jack. Quietly I walked across the corridor to his room and opened the door. He was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. I could see his eyes were open.

"Jack," I whispered.

"Hey, what's up?"

I rushed to him and threw my arms around him. We held each other quietly for a long moment.

"I don't want us to lose each other," I said through my tears.

He smiled. "Maybe we won't," he said. We kissed. "We won't," I said determinedly.

"I want to believe that, too, but I'm not smart enough to see past tomorrow, Pearl. Let's wait on the promises so we don't hurt each other, hear?"

"I won't ever hurt you, Jack."

"That's a promise," he warned.

"I'm not afraid."

"Well, I am. I can't help it. Even when we drill in a known oil field, we got no guarantee until that bit hits that vein. We aren't deep enough into each other's lives yet, Pearl," he said wisely.

"Just hold me, Jack. Hold me and dream of only good things. Soon enough my life's going to be filled enough with facts and statistics, piles of details and piles of data and objective proof. I want some dreams, some fantasies, too."

"Sure," he said.

He held me and kissed me, and I fell asleep for a while. Before morning I returned to my own room, calmer, more contented.

Daddy and Mommy were surprised to hear Jack was leaving. At breakfast, he explained that he had planned only to be away from his job for only one day. Daddy made him promise he would come back soon.

Jack returned the sport jacket and tie to Daddy, thanking him, but Daddy asked him to keep the coat.

"I doubt that I'll get back to that size and you just might be going to more formal affairs in the future."

"But, monsieur--"

"Please," Daddy insisted. "It's nothing compared to what you've done for me." Reluctantly, Jack took the jacket.

Before Mommy and I returned to the hospital to visit with Pierre, I said good-bye to Jack in front of the house.

"I forgot to give you back your clothes," I reminded him.