Chapter 25

           WhenKayAdamsreceivedhercollegedegree,shetookajobteachinggradeschoolinherNewHampshirehometown.ThefirstsixmonthsafterMichaelvanishedshemadeweeklytelephonecallstohismotheraskingabouthim.Mrs.Corleonewasalwaysfriendlyandalwayswoundupsaying,"Youaveryverynicegirl.YouforgetaboutMikeyandfindanicehusband."Kaywasnotoffendedatherbluntnessandunderstoodthatthemotherspokeoutofconcernforherasayounggirlinanimpossiblesituation.

           Whenherfirstschooltermended,shedecidedtogotoNewYorktobuysomedecentclothesandseesomeoldcollegegirlfriends.ShethoughtalsoaboutlookingforsomesortofinterestingjobinNewYork.Shehadlivedlikeaspinsterforalmosttwoyears,readingandteaching,refusingdates,refusingtogooutatall,eventhoughshehadgivenupmakingcallstoLongBeach.Sheknewshecouldn’tkeepthatup,shewasbecomingirritableandunhappy.ButshehadalwaysbelievedMichaelwouldwriteherorsendheramessageofsomesort.Thathehadnotdonesohumiliatedher,itsaddenedherthathewassodistrustfulevenofher.

           Shetookanearlytrainandwascheckedintoherhotelbymidafternoon.Hergirlfriendsworkedandshedidn’twanttobotherthemattheirjobs,sheplannedtocallthematnight.Andshedidn’treallyfeellikegoingshoppingaftertheexhaustingtraintrip.Beingaloneinthehotelroom,rememberingallthetimessheandMichaelhadusedhotelroomstomakelove,gaveherafeelingofdesolation.