The next day, as they were driving to work, she told him how she had been jealous of Mrs. Brown.

Fred pulled the car to the curb and stopped. "Dora, from the first day when you made me see about that job, then let me fix your vacuum in the kitchen, or maybe it was when you first touched me in such a gentle way." He cleared his throat before he went on. "I guess I can't say exactly when or why it happened but I knew that you were the only woman I would ever want in my life. I…I …" He stopped abruptly and pulled the car away from the curb.

Dora tried to say something noble and intelligent but all she could say was, "Me, too."

Fred thought, "I almost said 'I love you'. I think I do. But I better be sure before I say it."

Dora kept thinking of Fred's speech in the days that followed. She thought, "He didn't say he loved me. Maybe he will…later. Maybe he just needs time."

They did find it easier to talk about the job and Mrs. Brown's problem. Fred told Dora that Mrs. Brown was definite about picking up the medicine on their way to work that morning. She had given it to her husband so she knew he had it when he came into the office. He had to pick up some folders to take with him, before he left to make some business calls. He had come back at lunch time but when he hadn't come into the office, Marge had gone to the parking lot to see if his car were there. When she found him in the car, they had called the paramedics. They tried to revive him before taking him to a local emergency room but it was too late. That's when the search for the medicine had begun. The office and the car had been thoroughly searched.

Dora added that Marge had told her about the police looking for the medicine. Marge believed Mrs. Brown but she thought the police sounded like they thought that Mrs. Brown might have withheld the medicine, on purpose.

As they talked, Fred and Dora found themselves lining up on Mrs. Brown's side. They did have some doubt when the insurance man began calling steadily to take her to lunch. But they had known each other in High School and had met again when Mr. Brown had bought that big policy. He hadn't had a heart problem then. They decided that, probably, the heart problem was the reason he started to gamble. Most of us have thought about something we want to do before we die. Maybe gambling had been one of those things that Mr. Brown wanted to do. Maybe he had had a premonition about dying. Dora had to admit to herself that she had come up with most of the 'maybes' and 'probablies'. She had always wanted answers to things even if she had to think them up.

Fred laughed, "I think we had better give the problem time to work out."

The reunion was just a couple of weeks away. Dora decided to get a new outfit to wear. She went to a local boutique and put herself in the hands of the owner. The lady understood about reunions and meeting people you haven't seen for 25 years. The dress they decided on was a beautiful brown model that helped Dora look more slender. It brought out the brown of her eyes and the brown in her hair. Of course, Dora had to have the other accoutrements that completed such a dress. When Dora counted it all up, she figured she would be working all next month to pay for it.

The days seemed to drag but the Friday before Reunion Day finally arrived. When Fred dropped Dora off that night he kissed her good night. He thought he had become a pretty good kisser after Dora's lesson. Dora thought so, too. "I'll pick you up at four-thirty tomorrow. We're supposed to be there at five for cocktails. Oh, Dora, in case you didn't know, my landlady told me that when you go to those big hotels, like the one where we'll be going, you should have some change to drop in the attendant's dish when you leave the restroom. I guess if you wanted to leave a dollar it would be all right."

Dora was confounded, "You have to pay to go to the restroom?" she asked "I certainly won't leave a dollar but, if I have to, I could take some change."

"It's only one night in 25 years," Fred told her before he kissed her again and enjoyed it as much as he did before.

Dora spent the next next morning having her hair done and the rest of day cleaning and dusting to pass the time before she started to dress.

When she finally got dressed and had put on makeup for one of the few times in her life, she looked at her image in the mirror and liked what she saw. "Eat your heart out, Mrs Brown," she told her likeness.

Fred rang the doorbell at 4:30 exactly. When Dora opened the door, he could hardly believe that this Dora was the same one he had kissed last night. "You look great," he told her.

Dora thanked him. "You're very handsome tonight, Fred." He was wearing the blue suit in which Mr. Brown had died. Dora was sure that the suit looked much better on Fred than it had on Mr. Brown. She took Fred's arm. "Let's go to that Reunion and Wow the old gang."

As they signed at the check-in table, the lady in charge looked up at them when they told her their names. "Dora Dinkledorf and Fred Sommers," she said as she handed them their name tags. "I didn't remember that you two went together in High School."

"We didn't," Dora told her.

"But we do now," Fred said, proudly.

The evening was a complete success as far as Dora and Fred were concerned. Most people remembered them after seeing the name tags and congratulated them on being a 'couple' after so many years. There was only one couple that they tried to avoid. Daniel Stethman had brought Mrs. Brown as a guest.

Dinner was very good since everyone had been given their choice of entrees. The raspberry and ice cream dessert ended a perfect meal. When the orchestra began to play some songs from the class era, many couples filled the dance floor. Dora patted Fred on the shoulder and nodded at the dance floor.

"I don't dance very well but…." Fred started.

Dora interrupted, "I don't either but I just wanted you too look at Mrs. Brown and Daniel. She looks happier than I have ever seen her."

Fred agreed. "They both look the way I feel when I look at you. I do know how to waltz if they play the kind of music we can waltz to. My aunt taught me how when she thought I might get a date for the High School Dances. I did dance a lot by myself."

Dora laughed. "That's the only dance I can do, too. My Dad taught me when I wanted to learn. I danced a lot by myself, too. I'm willing to try if you are."

When the orchestra finally played a song that they thought they could dance to, they found most of the other couples had left the floor. Fred took Dora in his arms and moved around the dance floor with such grace that a few couples applauded as they danced by. When the orchestra started to play the kind of music most of the couples preferred, Fred gave Dora an extra hug as he escorted her back to their table.

When Fred excused himself to go to the restroom, Dora waited at the table for him. Many people were still going around reading name tags so Dora was not too surprised when someone standing beside her called her name. When she looked up, she couldn't help getting to her feet as she stammered, "Mrs. Brown?" She knew they were here but she didn't expect Mrs. Brown and Daniel Stethman to acknowledge her at the Reunion.

Mrs. Brown pulled a seat up. Sitting down facing Dora, she requested, "Would you please call me Susan from now on. By the way, I think you know Dan Stethman. He was in your class. He asked me to come tonight. I know it's too soon after Arthur's death but Dan thought a night out would be good for me. It has been fun."

Dora was so confused that all she could think to say was, "I'm sure your husband would want you to live even if he is dead." To ease her embarrassment she held out her hand to Daniel. "It's good to see you again, Dan," she told him.

He smiled at her. "You, too, Dora. You and Fred do a mean waltz."

Dora laughed. "It's the only dance we know. We'll have to brush up on some others before the next Reunion."

Dan looked at her as he said, "You look lovely tonight."

Dora wanted to say something about looking better than she did when they were cleaning their offices but the night had been too good to spoil it with sarcasm so she just thanked him.

Susan took Dora's hand from Dan but she waited a few moments before she asked, "Is that one of Arthur's suits that Fred is wearing?"

Dora gasped, "Please, Mrs…Susan. Don't say anything. Marge told me it was the suit he was wearing when…."

"Of course I won't. It's just that he did remind me so much of Arthur when we first saw you tonight. I thought Arthur had come back. I should have had the suit cleaned before I gave it to Fred but it had just come back from the cleaners and my head was not in the right place at the time." Susan apologized.

Dora murmured, "Just don't tell…." Fred had walked up to stand behind her.

"Don't tell what?" he asked.

Susan rushed to explain, "We decided not to tell Katy that the salad was not very good. She's the one that planned the dinner for the group. Everything but the salad was excellent."

Fred told her, "You're right, Mrs. Brown, that dinner was great. I didn't see anything wrong with the salad."

Susan held her hand up, "Dora and I decided that I will be just plain Susan from now on. And I think you know Daniel Stethman." The men shook hands.

Fred said, "Hi, Dan." To everyone he explained. "I need some change for the kitty in the rest room. I put some in my pocket but there must be a whole in it."

Everyone pulled out change and offered it to him. He took Dora's and thanked them all as he left.

Dora and Susan looked at each other and said, in unison, "A hole in his pocket!" Dora added, "Don't say anything now. It would spoil a great evening. I'll get him to give the coat to me to mend. If I find anything, I'll tell Fred the truth and I'll call you tomorrow…."

Susan had been busy pulling a card from her purse, "Not tomorrow, Dora, if you find that bottle, call me tonight, no matter how late it is."

Dora agreed. Everyone tried to enjoy the rest of the Reunion get together dinner, but of the three, Fred was the only one that had nothing else on his mind.

Dan Stethman had looked at Susan and whispered, "Let's hope."

She had squeezed his hand and answered, "Let's do."

Dora could feel the love that flowed between them. Susan Brown was a different woman tonight. Dora's mother would have said that they cast 'moon eyes' at each other. Dora found that she and Fred were doing the 'moon eyes' bit, too.

As they were all leaving the hotel, Susan mouthed to Dora, "Call me." Dora nodded.

When they got home, Dora told Fred to give him her coat so she could fix the split in the pocket seam.

"I'll bring it over tomorrow. I won't be wearing it again very soon," he told her. "It's too late to fix it tonight."

She tried to get the coat without telling him that Mr. Brown had been wearing it when he died, but he refused. Finally she almost shouted, "I have to do it tonight. That's the coat that Mr. Brown had on when he died. His medicine might have fallen through the same hole that your change fell through."

Fred looked at her as he pulled the coat off. "Why didn't you say so."

"I thought you might not wear the suit if you knew. I figured you would look good in it. And you did!" Dora apologized.

"It's my favorite of all the clothes she gave me, so be careful with that pocket. Arthur isn't going to mind if I wear it." Fred was laughing at her as she started to feel around the hem of the coat. "Feel anything?"

Dora shook her head, "This material is really heavy." As she shook the coat, she heard a jingling sound. "I think I found your money but…"She felt a section with each hand. "Wait a minute, I do think something is there." She started toward another room. "I better get my sewing box.'

When she came back, she had a box in her hand. Taking out a small implement she start ripping out the bottom seam of the jacket.

First a number of coins fell out. Then with a little urging from Dora, a small prescription bottle fell out.

"See," said Fred, "She told the truth. She did give him the medicine. He must have been in a lot of pain when he tried to get to it and he pushed the bottle through that slit."

Dora gave a big sigh. " I'll call Susan." She found the card Susan had given her at the Reunion. The phone was answered on the first ring.

"Please, please, tell me you found it." Susan was so excited she had a hard time getting the words out.

The excitement was echoed in Dora's answer, "We found it! We found it, right where…""

Susan didn't wait for any more. "I'll call the police and have them meet us at your…by the way, you better give me your address."

When Dora had given her address, Susan thanked her and Fred many more times before she hung up.

Dora looked at Fred as she said, "She said thanks about a hundred times." They both laughed before Dora continued, "I'm sure when we give it to the police and tell them where we found it, she will be cleared. Maybe she and Dan will be able to marry, eventually. When I saw them together tonight, I was hoping so."

"Good for them." Fred said, "But how about us? Maybe we could make it a double wedding."

"No, not us." Dora told him. When she saw the sad expression on his face, she added, " With all the money they get from that insurance policy, they will probably have a big wedding after they wait a while because of her husband's death. I think we should have a small wedding and do it right away."