Grace tossed and turned all night. How could she have been so rude to both Agatha and Carl? How could she have been so childish? What must Agatha think of her? Locking herself in a room, pouting, not talking… it was the first time she started to wonder if their differences in ages were too severe. However, even if Agatha was the same age as her, she was acting like a pouty sixteen-year-old. So she had a crush on Carl. Big deal. She always knew nothing would happen. Carl's mannerisms towards her made that clear. He took her under his wing when she first started. At first, he reminded her of her brother. He was focused, yet would goof off during lulls in the day. Slowly, as she got to know him better, he became more than a brother figure in her mind. To her dismay, he didn't stop treating her like a little sister. Because of this, she remained quiet. Anyways, she wasn't looking for a relationship – especially not with someone she worked with. It would pass eventually. But, seeing Agatha with him brought on a certain jealousy she never expected.

What a good friend Agatha is, she thought. Even after her little tantrum, she still respected her wishes and broke it off. How did she show her thanks? By shoving a chair under the doorknob. Why Agatha didn't say enough is enough then and there she'll never know. Then again, this was the first time they had this kind of tiff. Usually, they bickered about flower arrangements and not keeping up with certain chores, but those topics could be expected from any pair of roommates. Grace knew come the afternoon she'd have to apologize and pray she would be forgiven. Things had been going so well with Agatha, she wasn't going to let something as silly as a crush come and ruin it all. It was time to grow up.

. . .

Grace managed a few hours of sleep but found herself awake just after 5 AM. Instead of fighting for an extra hour or two, she decided to start her day early. Being up so soon before the sun made the decision difficult. She didn't bother changing into her work clothes before going into the kitchen, nor did she bother with a robe. The house was warm, which was strange as it winter was settling in. Checking the thermostat, she realized she forgot to turn it down before bed and that Agatha mustn't have thought to check it either. Well, she thought, one night won't hurt.

Making her coffee, bypassing breakfast, for now, Grace thought back on last night. She felt sillier than ever. Carl didn't mean all that much to her, she'd been more hung up on others in the past. Thinking about it, she realized how selfish her attitude around this was. It occurred to her that she was afraid to lose Agatha. What if the two of them hit it off well? They might start a serious relationship which might lead to marriage at some point. Of course, that would mean Agatha moving out. Instead of being happy and thinking what joys it would bring to her friend's life, she thought of what change would be caused for herself. In part, these feelings didn't make sense. While she hadn't been in the house long, she lived alone long enough to know it wasn't an issue. The company was great, but really she didn't spend enough time at home for it to carry so much weight. When asking Agatha to move in, her thoughts weren't on companionship. Finical help was what pushed her to ask. Gaining a friend ended up being a bonus.

Maybe this happened for a reason. Maybe it was a wake-up call not to get too attached. This was a repeating pattern in Grace's life. She'd meet someone, hit it off, and then become emotionally attached. Not so much in the clingy and suffocating way — she hoped — but rather in silence. She had trouble saying how much people meant to her sometimes. What she felt came out in other ways, such as last night, or when she tried putting it in words it came off wrong and put some sort of wedge. As silly as it was, it was her way of saying to Agatha that she cares. Marriage didn't always mean the end of a friendship, but it'd happened with her best friend from high school. She couldn't go through that hurt again. Agatha had much less of a reason to stay apart of her life.

"Hey," Agatha said with sleepy caution.

"Oh," Grace said, looking up and setting down her mug on the kitchen table. "Good morning… I didn't hear you get up."

Agatha shrugged. "Guess I'm used to being up at this time one way or another. I also thought I heard you walking around."

"There's coffee made if you want."

"Thanks." Agatha took her favorite cup from the cabinet and filled it to the brim. First taking a couple of sips at the counter, she then walked over to the table again. "Mind if I sit with you?"

Grace replied by pushing Agatha's seat out with her foot.

As she sat, Agatha said, "I want to apologize again for yesterday."

Grace held her hand up. "Please don't. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I've thought a lot, and I was completely out of line. I… I don't know why I reacted the way I did. I hope you'll forgive me."

"It's forgotten," Agatha said with a wave of her hand. Truth be told, as long as she wasn't being kicked out of the house, she didn't care who was right and who was wrong.

"Really, I feel terrible. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Why don't I go talk to Carl and somehow explain all of this? I don't want to get in the way of something with potential. It obviously went well."

"No, it's okay. It might have been fun for a little while, but I doubt anything serious. He'd come to his senses after a while. I'd feel funny being the older one in a serious relationship."

"You're not older by much. You can't even tell."

"But I'd always know."

"Please, just call him?"

"Grace, I ended things with him and that's that. I don't want to hear another word about it. Can we just go on like usual?"

Grace looked down into her coffee cup. "Okay, I'm sorry."

Agatha felt bad for her quick tone, but had she gone on any longer, she would have been forced to admit the truth about telling Carl. It was too early to start another argument.

In attempts to alleviate the tense atmosphere, Agatha soon asked, "Are there eggs left?"

"I think so," Grace answered without looking up. "I'll make them in a few minutes."

"I can do it. You want some?"

"No, thank you. But could you bring the coffee pot over here while you're up?"

Agatha nodded, walking over to the counter and setting the pot in front of Grace. "Hey," she said, getting a better look at her face. "You okay?"

Grace nodded, half looking up. "I'm tired. I don't feel like going into work today."

Agatha shrugged. "Then stay home sick."

"I can't. I need the money."

"What good is it if you're just going to fumble through it all morning?"

"I guess that could make sense."

"Besides," Agatha went on, "not once have I seen you take a sick day. You earned a break."

Finishing the last sip of her first cup, Grace reached for the coffee pot and began pouring. "As tempting as it sounds, I'll have to pass."

Sitting back down again, Agatha continued her persuasion. "Come on, why don't we go and do something fun today?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno. We could go shopping?"

"For what?"

"Nothing in particular. Clothes, knick knacks… just window shopping."

Grace tilted her head. "That does sound kind of fun."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Grace gave a small smile. "I suppose one day won't hurt. I'm too tired to take orders. I'll be mixing them up all day."

"Thatta girl." Agatha stood up and nudged the other woman's arm. "In that case, I'm making you some eggs."

. . .

The two spent a happy, and frankly, much needed day shopping. Yesterday was forgotten, at least verbally. Grace couldn't shake her guilt, and Agatha too felt bad for her actions and for what she said to Carl. And most of all, for keeping what she said a secret. But, neither of them let their feelings interfere with their day.

They didn't buy much. They splurged on a big lunch and Agatha found a blouse she couldn't part with. Grace still minded her money. She was more on the lookout for help wanted signs in store and restaurant windows. However, when Agatha was off in another section of one store, Grace came across a silver bracelet she thought Agatha would like. While on her way to show her, she decided to buy it as a gift and surprise her with it later. Christmas was a few weeks away, but she didn't think she'd be able to wait. Besides, it was a nice token from the day.

"Wanna stop someplace for dinner?"

Grace shook her head. "We already went somewhere for lunch. I don't think we should do any more damage."

"My treat."

"Haven't you spent enough today?"

"Ah, it's all right. It's not like we do this every day."

"I don't know how you do it at all," Grace said.

"Do what?"

"Not live in constant fear living paycheck to paycheck."

"I'm used to it. It was worse when Rooster was with me. Sharing a place with you has actually given me the leisure of buying extra things for once in my life."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you kidding? I had to learn how to make a loaf of bread feed two for a week. I managed a small garden from a window box over the summers which helped. Sometimes I had better jobs than others, but it's always been tight. I'm not saying I can live like a Rockefeller now, but it feels nice being able to own a nice piece of clothing."

Grace glanced at the paper bag in Agatha's hands. While the garment was pretty, she wouldn't consider it the best quality. The fabric was thin and the pattern was a bit off. She found the thing on sale because a couple of the buttons were loose. Growing up, Grace's family didn't live in luxury, either, but she never realized how much better she had it than some. She had her Sunday clothes, play clothes, work clothes, dinner clothes, school clothes… from the sound of it, Agatha didn't have a need for play clothes. It was all work for her. Even now there was a noticeable difference in their attire. Agatha's dress was far more worn. A few years old at the least. Grace bought what she was wearing a couple months ago and found it difficult not replacing it for winter. She wondered how much Agatha had saved up. If it was around the same, she'd feel like a complete snob.

"Did I say something?"

"What?"

"You went quiet," Agatha said. "I didn't mean to whine."

"Oh no, you aren't whining. I just started thinking."

"What about?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Let's bypass this back and forth. You're gonna end up telling me in the end."

A blush came to Grace's cheeks. "I was just thinking… how different our lives have been."

"You're just realizing this now?"

"No, but I never realized the depths."

"What depths?"

"Just hearing you talk about money and having so little your whole life… it makes me feel bad for having what I did. Or rather, for taking it for granted."

"You never realized. Even if you had, what could you do? You were a kid through the worst of it – for me, not necessarily other people."

"Still, I should have realized when I came to New York. I've been oblivious and so focused on my own life. I should see how much worse off some other people are. I went into a panic losing one of my two jobs when there are some people who can't manage one."

"Calm down," Agatha said, placing a hand on Grace's arm. "You're not oblivious. Don't you remember when we met? You ran up to me because you thought I was upset and wanted to help. I don't call that oblivious. Most people would have rushed passed me wanting to get away from the crazy person talking to herself."

"I guess."

"Then you offered to take me in."

Grace rolled her eyes. "I don't think it's considered taking you in when you pay half the rent."

"You didn't have to offer. One cup of coffee didn't make me any less a stranger to you. I wonder sometimes if you'd be better off with someone your own age."

"Aw, come on, Agatha. Not this again."

"It's the truth."

"I wasn't seeking out someone of a certain age. I was seeking out a decent person."

"You think I'm a decent person?"

"Yeah? Why shouldn't I?"

Agatha shrugged. "I don't know. No one has ever said that about me before."

"Well then, I guess there are some people more ignorant than I."

Agatha smiled but felt too uncomfortable by the compliment to reply directly. Instead, she stopped and pointed to a pub across the street. "Come on, I'm starved. I'm buying dinner. Whether you eat or not is your choice."

. . .

"Oh, Grace… it's beautiful."

Grace grinned later that evening as she watched Agatha admire the bracelet she bought her. "You really like it?"

"I love it! Thank you so much… but what's the occasion?"

"I guess it's me trying to say thank you for being a good friend. I know I've been difficult the past couple days."

"Let's just forget about it, okay?"

"All right… but you really like it?"

Agatha laughed. "Yes, I really, really like it. How did you buy it without my noticing?"

"You were somewhere else in the store. It's not the finest piece of jewelry, but I thought it had a nice shine."

"I love the pattern." She ran her finger over the bumps and ridges.

"I thought you might. I've seen you with a necklace with similar markings."

"They're gonna go great together!" Agatha set her wrist down with one final glance before standing up. "I was planning to wait until Christmas, but I was looking for an excuse to give this to you sooner…"

"You got me something?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, hold on."

Agatha disappeared into her room, reappearing a minute later with her hands behind her back.

"It's not half as nice as the bracelet, but I hope you'll like it anyway. This wasn't going to be your only present, either. Just a small extra."

"I'm sure I'll love it."

Agatha put her arm forward and handed Grace a small stuffed rabbit.

"It's so cute!" Grace smiled.

"It's stupid, I know. I'm probably wrong, but you seem like the kind of person who likes these things. I also saw you looking in the pet shop window at the kittens. I would have gotten you a cat, but they only things I saw were bunnies and bears."

"Agatha, I love it." Standing up, she hugged her friend and then finished. "You're right. I am that kind of person. I still have my old teddy bear and doll in my room."

"Really? I've never seen them."

"Because I keep it hidden. I didn't want you to think me strange."

Agatha laughed. "You need to relax. Do really think I have a right to think anyone is strange?"

"How about this: I'll relax, and you let up on yourself. We have these conversations way too often."

"Yeah, okay. It's a deal."