As quietly as possible, Kim tried to slip out of the bed with the intention of dressing before Edward woke up. But it was not to be. Edward’s small, white, and rather nasty Jack Russell terrier growled and bared his teeth. His name was Buffer. He was at the foot of the bed.
Edward sat up and shooed the dog away. With a groan he fell back against the pillow.
“What time is it?” he asked. He’d closed his eyes.
“It’s a little after six,” Kim said.
“Why are you awake so early?” Edward asked.
“I’m used to it,” Kim said. “This is my normal wakeup time.”
“But it was almost one when we came to bed.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Kim said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stayed.”
Edward opened his eyes and looked at Kim. “Do you feel uncomfortable?” he asked.
Kim nodded.
“I’m sorry,” Edward said. “I shouldn’t have talked you into it.”
“It’s not your fault,” Kim said.
“But it was your inclination to go,” Edward said. “It was my fault.”
They looked at each other for a beat, then both smiled.
“This is sounding a bit repetitious,” Kim said with a chuckle. “We’re back to competing with each other with apologies.”
“It would be funny if it weren’t so pitiful,” Edward said. “You’d think we would have made some progress by now.”
Kim moved over and they put their arms around each other. They didn’t talk for a moment as they enjoyed the embrace. It was Edward who broke the silence. “Do you still feel uncomfortable?”
“No,” Kim said. “Sometimes merely talking about something really helps.”
Later while Edward was in the shower, Kim called her roommate, Marsha, whom she knew would be about to leave for work. Marsha was glad to hear from her and voiced a modicum of concern that Kim had failed to come home or call the previous evening.
“I should have called,” Kim admitted.
“I take it the evening was a success,” Marsha said coyly.
“It was fine,” Kim said. “It just got so late, and I didn’t want to take the risk of waking you up.”
“Oh, sure!” Marsha said with exaggerated sarcasm.
“Would you give Sheba some food?” Kim added, changing the subject. Marsha knew her too well.
“Your cat has already dined,” Marsha said. “The only other news is that you got a call last night from your father. He wants you to call him when you have a chance.”
“My father?” Kim questioned. “He never calls.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Marsha said. “I’ve been your roommate for years, and it was the first time I spoke with him on the phone.”
After Edward got out of the shower and dressed, he surprised Kim by suggesting they go to Harvard Square for breakfast. Kim had imagined he’d want to go directly to his lab.
“I’m up two hours before I expected to be,” Edward said. “The lab can wait. Also, it’s been the most pleasant evening of the year and I don’t want it to be over.”
With a smile on her face, Kim put her arms around Edward’s neck and gave him a forceful hug. She had to stand on her tiptoes in the process. He returned the affection with equal exuberance.
They used Kim’s car since it had to be moved; it was illegally parked outside Edward’s apartment. In the square Edward took her to a student greasy spoon where they indulged themselves with scrambled eggs, bacon, and coffee.
“What are your plans today?” Edward asked. He had to speak loudly over the general din. Summer session at the university was in full swing.
“I’m heading up to Salem,” Kim said. “They’ve started the construction on the cottage. I want to check on the progress.” Kim had decided to call the old house “the cottage” in contrast to the castle.
“When do you plan to get back?”
“Early evening,” Kim said.
“How about meeting at the Harvest Bar around eight?” Edward said.
“It’s a date,” Kim said.
After breakfast Edward asked Kim to drop him off at the Harvard biological labs.
“You don’t want me to take you home to get your car?” she asked.