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on the island.
Lindsay winced.The ribs they'd had to cut in order to remove her spleen were still
incredibly tender, as was the still-healing incision.But now that she was safe, and out in
the cold, fresh air, she felt as if she could breathe.A wave of relief then lethargy swept
over her, and she longed to find a nice, lonely boxcar somewhere, curl up, and fall fast
asleep.But, her mind wearily reminded her, now isn't the time for that.
As the ferry chugged closer to shore, Lindsay relentlessly scanned the docks.The boat was
a half hour late, but surely Ginny would have waited.When realization finally dawned on
Lindsay, its power was enough to send her sliding down the ferry wall, to the floor.There
wasn't a single soul waiting on the docks.Not one.Maybe she found the kids right off.
Yeah.Lindsay sighed.That must be it.Her expression hardened a little and she turned
unseeing eyes back towards the murky river.Not that I can blame her for not coming on
any account. She doesn't really know me.And who the hell is she to waste my time? Now
that this little adventure is over, I can get on with my own life and give up on playing the
Good Samaritan. I have far better things to do.Pockets to pick.Places to go.Things to
see.But she couldn't make herself believe the words and she felt her heart sink."I can't
believe I did all this for nothing." She chuckled bitterly and rose to her feet."How stupid
am I?"
"You say something to me, ma'am?" one of the ferry workers asked, sidling up to her.His
skin was the color of dark chocolate and his eyes glinted with genuine curiosity as he
waited politely for her answer."You look cold.We have blankets inside.Would you like one?"
he asked eagerly.
He couldn't, Lindsay figured, be more than thirteen, though he was tall and well built. "Is
this your first day?" she inquired kindly.Either he was too na" ve to know that Lindsay was
supposed to be made up as a prostitute or too well-mannered to treat her badly because
of it.
"Yes, ma'am."He smiled brightly, already thinking ahead to getting paid and bringing home
food bought with his very own money.Suddenly, he looked a little worried. "Is there
something wrong?"
"No."Lindsay smiled gently, melancholy stealing over her."You're doing great. And I already
have everything I need." Which is nothing at all.
The boy shrugged then pushed himself away from the rail, off to untie the dock ropes.
She disembarked in silence as the twenty or so men and woman scattered across the
docks, all seemingly with someplace better to be.She told herself to just leave, that now
she was being a fool.But her heart wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the only friend
she'd ever had.She tucked her hands into her pockets and walked a short way down each
of the streets that dead-ended at the docks, half of her expecting to see Ginny, the other
half knowing she wouldn't.
Lindsay made her way back to the river and stopped alongside the boat.Her eyes fluttered
shut and she cocked her head and listened, longing to hear the lonely whistle of a train
and be well away from the noisy, crowded, stinking city.
With several quick strides she was back on the gangway, calling out to the boy who had
spoken to her earlier.
The young man was untying the ropes, preparing the boat for the journey back to the
island.
"Hey!"
His head popped up from his task and he moved to the railing, sliding a little on the deck's
icy surface.
"Ma'am?"
"I think I got on the wrong ferry.This isn't Queens, is it?"
The boy's forehead creased and he took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his
brow."No, ma'am.This is Manhattan."
"Is there another-?"
"Aren't you even going to say goodbye before leaving?"
Lindsay whirled around at the sound of Ginny's soft, pain-tinged voice.The redhead's
clothes were wrinkled and she was shivering a little.Dark circles ringed tired, pale eyes and
her hair was disheveled from the wind.But there she was.Just as she promised she would
be.Lindsay searched her mind for something to say but the words wouldn't come.
To her profound relief, Ginny didn't let the awkward silence between them grow.She
simply pulled Lindsay into a full body hug and whispered into her ear, "I'm so glad you're
here.I was worried sick you'd do something crazy to get discharged early."
Lindsay melted into the embrace, happy beyond reason that at least one of them had the
good sense to have faith in the other.She would, she swore to herself, do better next
time.The younger woman's heart was hammering and Lindsay could feel it through their
woolen coats.She pressed her wind-burned cheek against Ginny's and hugged her tighter.
After a long moment, Ginny extended her arms and looked at her friend.Her eyes lit on
her neck and she gasped. Anger then confusion flickered in blue eyes for just a second,
before the storm cleared.Her mouth opened and closed several times without a sound.An
"Oh, my God," finally burst free."That is the largest hickey I have ever seen!"
Ginny shook her head as if to dispel the image that she knew would be forever burned
into her brain."What on earth were you doing while I was gone?"She didn't give Lindsay a
chance to explain as her thoughts tumbled directly from her brain and out of her
mouth."Is that makeup?Lots of makeup?" She wrinkled her nose in disgust."You look like a
totalÉWell, like a strumpet!"
A dark eyebrow arched."Bertha would be so pleased."
"Huh?"
Lindsay grinned, perversely pleased with Ginny's honest assessment and especially the
earlier blasphemy.She's right, she laughed to herself.She's not a very good Catholic
girl.Until that moment, String Bean hadn't realized exactly how much she missed Ginny
and how damn glad she was to see her.
Then Ginny noticed the back of the colored collar beneath Lindsay's coat and without
preamble she unbuttoned it and plucked at the horrendous, enormous, low cut dress.Her
gaze traveled down to her own gray, shapeless dress that she firmly believed had
beenmade by blind prisoners with two left hands.And no thumbs. "I'm gone for one day
and you become not only a strumpet but one with vile taste in clothing?" she asked
incredulously, glancing up at Lindsay with shocked eyes.
Lindsay's grin turned sheepish and she offered weakly, "I've been busy?"
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