"Oh, I love you so much, my darling," he choked out.

"I love you, I love you, I love you," she almost sobbed, thinking that she had never before been so happy in all of her life.

He rolled off of her and she turned to meet his loving gaze, a glint of happiness showing on both their faces.

They lay there, holding each other, caressing, touching, kissing when they were interrupted by a long, harsh insistent ring of the doorbell. At first they both lay there fearful that whomever it was may hear them and know they were home. They didn't want to spoil their romantic, loving mood and chose to ignore it, but minute after minute the ringing persisted until Frankie finally jumped up, threw on his robe and staggered out to the door.

"Damn it all," he muttered, bending over and kissing her lightly on the forehead. "I'll be right back, just as soon as I get rid of whomever's out there!"

Stretching her body languorously, it was as though he were still inside her, for their lovemaking had been so completely full and satisfying that she ached all the way down to her toes, and she felt like one, overflowing, warm, liquid receptacle of love.

She closed her eyes and hugged herself, wishing that he would hurry back to her, hold her and make her feel safe and loved again, but her reverie was shattered by the harsh growl of his voice coming from the hallway and the whine of a woman's voice in return. They were evidently having an argument by the door, but then she heard Frankie's footsteps followed by the click of the woman's heels going into the living room. She sat upright in bed and reached for a cigarette, wondering who it could be at this hour that would make Frankie forget about her waiting for him in their bed. As they entered the living room their voices became louder and more distinguishable and her body shuddered as she recognized the woman's voice. It was Gypsy! Completely shocked she let the cigarette fall from her hand and it began to smolder on the comforter of the bed. She couldn't imagine what had brought her to their apartment at that time of night and was really afraid to think of a reason.