Emery had left some time ago, and Debbie had gone with him. Now she would be taken home by Melvin Kanagy. She’d never imagined life would turn out this way for her—that she would go home on her first date with a man who had been married. But many other girls had done so, and there was no shame in the matter since Melvin was a widower. It’s just the way Da Hah worked things out sometimes. Melvin’s frequent glances toward her all evening had kept her feelings up, so there was no reason she should sink into despair now. For the first time she would get to speak at length with Melvin. He was a gut man, and though she might not love him yet, there was no reason that couldn’t change. Maybe she’d get over her embarrassment soon and stop all the blushing. At least no one had teased her tonight. Maybe they hadn’t noticed, although that was hard to imagine. Maybe the thought of her with a date seemed too impossible to imagine. Either way, she was now dating and might soon be a married woman, if she didn’t miss her guess.
