Jakes questioned me about my demeanor after Nancy left the room. I merely told him that the woman was full of attitude and that I couldn't tolerate it, but the truth was that I was going crazy wanting her. I lied to him, and he believed it. So I shifted the subject by talking to him about the stock market.

When Jakes left, I closed my eyes, and her beautiful face appeared in my mind. I recalled that I had ordered the uniform the day before and that I had asked Aunt Catherine for her and Nancy's mother's measurements, but for Nancy, I wished I could take the measurement by...