Convincing Ginger to keep quiet wasn't easy. Mary Ann pondered this as she washed Ginger's share of the dishes — part of the secrecy bargain. She was ready to call it a night, though, part of her was glad to have something to keep her busy.

Before her conversation with Ginger, she didn't feel at all awkward around the Professor. This changed at dinner when she kept catching Ginger's sly glances. The Professor didn't seem to notice for which she was thankful. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass him, let alone embarrass him in front of the others. She hoped by morning everything would blow over.

"Mind if I add one more?"

Mary Ann jumped at the Professor's voice coming up from behind her.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, setting an empty pie plate beside her on the table.

"I'm surprised you managed to beat Gilligan to the last slice," she said in amusement.

The Professor chuckled. "I didn't. I noticed it on the table. I thought Ginger was on dish duty tonight."

"She was," Mary Ann replied. "We... switched nights."

The Professor nodded, not inquiring further to her relief.

"You were quiet at dinner," he said, leaning against the water basin. "Did something happen?"

With a faint smile, Mary Ann said, "I'm a bit tired but nothing's the matter." Not a complete fib, she thought.

"Good."

When the Professor lingered, Mary Ann cocked an eye in his direction. He almost looked guilty.

"Is everything all right with you?"

"Oh, yes," he said as though shaken from deep thought.

After several more seconds of silence, she said, "… You knew I was here and not Ginger."

"Well..."

"Is that the reason brought the plate?" she then asked. "To check on me?"

With a mix of amusement and timidity, the Professor replied, "Nothing gets past you, does it?"

"Farm girl's intuition," she teased.

"A feeble excuse, I admit," he said while he nudged her arm. "I'm glad you're okay."

Mary Ann smiled. "Thank you."

Going back to the dishes, she watched the Professor from the corner of her eye. He moved away from the basin and paced a couple of feet fidgeting his hands all the while. Her own nerves kicked in again. Had Ginger said something after all? Is that the real reason he came? While he was the most considerate of the men about doing little things to help with the women's chores, it was strange he should go so far out of his way at this hour.

When he still didn't say goodnight or leave, Mary Ann half-turned to him, keeping her eyes cast down on the dish she was drying and asked, "Is there something else you need? I know the stew tonight wasn't your favorite. Are you hungry?"

"No, no. I'm not hungry. I just thought you'd like some company."

"I won't say no to that," she said. "Are you sure you want to waste your time? Haven't you been working on a new experiment?"

"I was," the Professor said with a glum tone.

She reached for another dish. "What happened?"

"Gilligan."

Mary Ann laughed, finding it easier to look at him again. "You knew the risk."

"I did," he said with a mix of a sigh and laugh. "One of these days I'll build myself a laboratory away from camp."

Mary Ann instructed the Professor to dry the pan she'd finished washing by handing him it along with towel as he continued.

"The jungle poses many threats, however, would be the best access for materials. The lagoon is out of the question as are any of the beaches. One of the caves would serve well, though I worry about ventilation in the event of a toxic chemical reaction..."

They got into a rhythm of washing and drying, Mary Ann listening intently as the Professor tossed around ideas for his potential laboratory and experiments he wanted to conduct. By the time the dishes were done, she felt much more at ease with him. His awkwardness left him, too. Everything felt normal again.

Yet, when they said goodnight, Mary Ann couldn't help but feel like he'd left something unsaid.