The rest of the week settled into a routine for Fred and Dora. They got their advance and both sent in the reservation for the Reunion Dinner. Fred tried to pay Dora for all the little things she had done for him but she told him that she would have to give it all back to him for fixing her vacuum and giving her a ride to work. The cleaning job was really routine after the first couple of days. Dora insisted on bringing a lunch for both of them since Ben told them they were allowed a half hour break for it. She told Fred it would be a free lunch for driving her every day. He finally agreed and tore up the little list he had carried in his pocket.

Dora had always been a routine person. She liked the comfort of knowing what would come next in her life. Life was good.

Fred was happy, too. On the third night, he got up the nerve to kiss Dora before she went into the house. It wasn't too personal, just a quick smack, but it was a beginning.

However, the following week took things out of the routine when Mrs. Brown called to ask if Fred could come in early, every day for a while. She had some things she wanted him to do. When he told her that Dora would have to come, too, she reluctantly agreed. She asked Marge if she could use Dora for an hour. Marge was enthusiastic. "Could I ever! The files really need cleaning out, I could maybe show her a little about the computer, and there are…"

Mrs. Brown raised her hand, "Never mind, just tell her, not me." She frowned at the secretary as she turned back to the phone. "OK, Fred, both of you, although I hadn't planned…"

"Fine. I'll let Dora know," Fred told her before she could go on. "We'll see you at 4 o'clock."

When Fred called Dora, she saw their nice routine flying out the window. "Are you sure she wanted both of us?" She asked. She had thought that Mrs. Brown was a woman who always felt better if there were a man around.

The next day when they got to the office, there was a man in Mrs. Brown's office. Marge put a finger to her lips. "A police inspector," she whispered as she motioned them to some chairs against the wall.

They were seated only a few minutes before the man came out of the office. As he was leaving, he said over his shoulder, "Let me know if there is any news on that prescription bottle."

When he was gone, Mrs. Brown motioned Fred to come into her office. "Marge, you can find something for Dora to do," she told the secretary.

Dora felt the hair on her neck stand up. She suddenly realized that she didn't want Fred and that woman alone in her office. Then, she put the proper name on it, she was jealous. A few juvenile kisses and she thought she had to right to…the right to what? For Dora, things had seldom got even this far before, with any man or boy. Of course, there was that time in High School with Timmy Whatsisname. He was about a half-head shorter than she so, at the end of a boring date he had had to pull her head down to kiss her. It was the best kiss she had ever had. She was surprised when Timmy didn't call her for another date until she heard some of his friends start to call her 'too tall Dora'. Thinking of that kiss, she knew she had no right to be jealous of Fred's discussion with their boss. Fred had never got beyond the quick smack stage. But the feeling wouldn't go away

Marge must have seen her looking after Mrs. Brown and Fred. "She has to find that prescription bottle. She wants the car, the parking lot and everything else she can think of searched again. Since Fred was a sort of friend from school she thought he would do a good job of it without asking too may questions."

Dora saw that Mrs. Brown was smiling at Fred all the time she was motioning in all directions. Fred kept nodding.

"Why don't I start you working on the files," Marge suggested.

Dora turned away from the private office window. "Why not? What do you want me to do?" She hoped her face didn't show her feelings for what might be going on behind the window in that private office.

Marge came close and patted Dora's arm. "I just need last year's files weeded out and put into other folders so they can go into another file. And, Dora…" her voice got softer, "don't worry. She is really a nice person. These are tough times for her. Her husband gambled away a lot of their money and she really needs to collect on that insurance policy. They argued about it a lot. I'm sure she flirts with other men because she needs to know she's still, you know…got it."

Dora sneaked a look at the woman in that office. She was dressed in the latest style and her figure added to their custom fit. Her blond hair had recently been cut in the newest fashion. Dora admitted, "She's beautiful. She could have anyone she wants."

Marge nodded, "She probably could but I think the one she really likes is the insurance man."

Dora was somewhat placated but she still wished Fred didn't look so interested as he talked to her.

In a few minutes, Mrs. Brown followed Fred to the door of the office as he started to leave. She handed him some keys. "I know it may be a fruitless search, but, please, take that car apart if you have to. I have to find that prescription bottle. Even if they don't arrest me for murder, people will always believe I killed my husband."

"I don't think anyone could believe that," Fred told her.

Dora looked up as Mrs. Brown put her hand on Fred's shoulder. "Thank you, Fred. I knew you would understand." Dora felt like a fire had erupted in her gut.

Fred spent the afternoon in the big car in the parking lot while Dora tried to concentrate on file dates in the office. Marge must have known that Dora had a problem. She walked over and picked up a few of the new folders and looked through them. "Good work, Dora. I think she wants you both back for another couple of days. I think you'll have all those files up to date by then."

Dora couldn't resist saying, "It's Fred she wants. I'm excess baggage. I'd stay home but I can use the extra money."

Marge smiled as she looked at Mrs. Brown. "I understand," she said.

The next three days went faster than Dora and Fred expected. Both were happy when they got their paychecks and saw the extra money.

Dora found it hard to talk to Fred any more. She didn't want to show her jealousy. In fact, she didn't want to admit it to herself but it was there. She still let Fred kiss her good night each time they got back from work, but she left in a hurry and went in the house and closed the door.

A week after they had got their paychecks, before Fred went through the kissing ceremony, he took her hand. "Is something wrong, Dora?"

She pulled her hand away, "Why do you think there is something wrong?" she asked.

Fred looked at the ground as he answered. "You've been so quiet. I hope you haven't changed your mind about going with me to the reunion. I've really been looking forward to it."

He sounded so miserable that Dora's jealousy faded into oblivion. She took his face in her hands and gave him a lesson in the real art of kissing, the Timmy kind. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," she told him. "See you tomorrow," she smiled back at him from the doorway before she closed it.

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