His face tightened angrily. “Do you think everything has a price, Noelle?”
“Of course,” she said simply. “Anything can be bought and sold.”
“Does that include you?”
“Yes, but I’m very expensive. Will you help me?”
There was a long hesitation. “All right. I’ll want to make some tests first.”
“Very well.”
The following week Israel Katz arranged for Noelle to go to the laboratory at the
hospital. When the test results were returned two days later, he telephoned her at work.
“You were right,” he said. “You’re pregnant.”
“I know.”
“I’ve arranged for you to have a curettage at the hospital. I’ve told them that your
husband was killed in an accident and that you are unable to have the baby. We’ll do the
operation next Saturday.”
“No,” she said.
“Is Saturday a bad day for you?”
“I’m not ready for the abortion yet, Israel. I just wanted to know that I could count on
you to help me.”
Madame Rose noticed the change in Noelle, not merely a physical change, but
something that went much deeper, a radiance, an inner glow that seemed to fill her. Noelle
walked around with a constant smile, as though hugging some wonderful secret.
“You have found a lover,” Madame Rose said. “It shows in your eyes.”
Noelle nodded. “Yes, Madame.”
“He is good for you. Hold onto him.”
“I will,” Noelle promised. “As long as I can.”
Three weeks later Israel Katz telephoned her. “I haven’t heard from you,” he said. “I
was wondering if you had forgotten?”
“No,” Noelle said. “I think of it all the time.”
“How do you feel?”
“Wonderful.”
“I’ve been looking at the calendar. I think that we had better go to work.”
“I’m not ready yet,” Noelle said.
Three weeks passed before Israel Katz telephoned her again.
“How about having dinner with me?” he asked.
“All right.”