She stopped before they got to the landing and made him let go of her waist.

"Maybe we'd better go up separately."

"I'm not ashamed of being with you," Gil said. "I'm not sorry for what we did."

"It's not that and you know it. I just don't want any rumors getting back to my dad. If he knew I'd so much as held hands with a boy he'd bit the roof."

"When can I see you Annie?" Gil held her hand tightly, his eyes warm and full as he searched her face for the answer he wanted.

"I… I can't promise anything. I've got to work in the store next week."

"I'll come in and see you."

"Not while my dad is there!" she hissed. "You'd only make it hard for me Gil. Please don't come while Daddy's there." He leaned forward to brush her lips with his. The touch seemed to start up her fires again and she had to push him away. But her eyes were soft, yielding. She smiled and squeezed his hand. "I won't forget what happened just now."

"Oh God Annie, I'm half crazy just thinking about it." Gil tried to kiss her again but she turned and hurried up the steps to the lobby of the church. Outside her mother was talking to a friend. Annie went over to her.

"Thanks for waiting, Mom, I was playing ping-pong in the basement." The lie made her ears burn but her mother didn't question it at all. Annie saw her older sister standing alone by a tree. When Brenda looked at her she felt as if her sister saw exactly what had happened with Gil in the basement. But how could that be? She was just feeling guilty about it, that was all. Brenda smiled at her then and Annie turned away. God, maybe she did know! A sweat broke out on Annie's face. She felt a little sick. Would Brenda say anything to Dad? They were so tight with each other. Because Brenda had always gone along with father's restrictions. She'd never dated, never done anything to her looks to entice male admirers. Brenda was twenty-one now and had no boyfriends, no proposals for marriage, nothing.