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"You said people here live to spend. but you work," I pointed out, and he laughed.

"I like to think of myself as different." He looked up at me. "I hope you do, too."

"I don't know you well enough to decide one way or another," I said.

The waiter brought us our drinks before he could respond.

"Well, then." he said after the waiter left. "Here's to your getting to know me well enough."

He clinked his glass with mine and looked over the rim as he sipped. those eyes of his twinkling with delight.

What are you doing Willow De Beers? I asked myself. End this; and get back to your purpose before you...

Before I what?

That wasn't a very difficult question. The answer hung on Thatcher's every smile and rested comfortably in the softness of my heart: be careful before you fall into something you'll not be able-- or willing -- to escape.

8

Blowing My Cover

.

We both ordered a light dinner, and Thatcher

chose a bottle of white wine. When he read off the wine list to me, I tried to pretend I was familiar with some of them. Neither my adoptive mother nor Daddy drank much wine at home. My A.M. loved

champagne, but she usually had it in the house only when they had a special dinner party.

My limited social experiences would surely unmask me. I thought. He would soon realize I was much younger than I had claimed, certainly no graduate-level student.

"So let's talk a little about you." he said. "Where are you from?"

I hated piling one lie over another and decided I would tell as much of the truth as I could.

"I'm from a little community near Columbia. South Carolina, called Spring City."

"I don't see any engagement ring on your finger. Have you no serious relationship awaiting your return?"

"Not anymore," I replied.

"Ah-ha! Recent breakup, then?"

"Is this heading for the, what did you call it. the Shiny?"

He laughed. "Hardly. Have you had many serious relationships?"

"No."

"Too busy, too involved with your work?"

"Something like that." I said. "I didn't go to college to find a husband. and I'm not afraid of being on my own," I said firmly.

"Now that we have that settled." he said. laughing.

"Well. I'm not!" I insisted,

"An independent woman. Good. Have you done much traveling?" he asked.