Noreen sat in her cabin with her knees drawn up and stared sightlessly ahead of her. I love him, but this time the thought terrified her. Unlike last night, she couldn’t laugh at the prospect because she didn’t love in the quick, reckless way Arlene did. Arlene freely gave her heart and affections, but Noreen gave forever. She knew this feeling wasn’t something she could shake free and forget, although she knew she had to. He wanted Arlene. He’d made love to Arlene and told her his secrets. How could she have let this happen? How could she have been so careless? She’d guarded her heart for years, determined not to give it to a man like Michael. He’d wanted to run away with Arlene and live with her, and for a moment Noreen had allowed herself to dream. To decide to stay with him there on that island would be heaven. She could write and… But Arlene didn’t write and Michael would probably want a woman who enjoyed partying with their neighbors and entertaining guests, not spending days locked up in a room with imaginary characters, or a woman who played with porcelain figurines when she needed inspiration.
