His secondary choices had already been filled and Manson amp; Harvey had been the only company with a position still vacant. And the disappointment and disruption of their plans was causing a great strain on their relationship. Not that Kim was that upset. It wasn't Curt's fault. It was just that his reaction to the situation was to abuse Kim because of it. He wouldn't look at her, or talk to her, and what was worse, he couldn't even make love to her anymore. He had become totally impotent. He couldn't even make love to her anymore, and the harder they tried to make it happen, the softer he became.

When Kim had married Curt, just three months before, a few days before her nineteenth birthday, she had been a virgin. She had saved herself for marriage faithfully all through high school, and had been as eager and responsive as any new bride could be. They had saved all their money to honeymoon in Hawaii and had enjoyed a part of paradise as Curt had helped her explore her own sexual responses. She had found them to be strong, indeed, overwhelming, when Curt touched, caressed, and penetrated those secret parts of her body.

"Here's your sandwich, darling," Kim said when Curt came through the kitchen.

As usual lately, Curt's eyes avoided her as he took the bag from her with a grunt and walked sullenly out the door. He was usually so sweet, but now it seemed there was almost nothing left between them, and after only three months of marriage. Tears welled up again in Kim's beautiful eyes and she made up her mind then and there that she would do what Curt himself had been too proud to do for himself.

In the bedroom, Kim took her robe off and began looking for her best clothing. She had never had the money for nice clothes and her newest dress was almost two years old.