Kelly slept nearly eight hours, again arising at the sound of the gulls to find that Pam wasn't there.  He went outside and saw her standing on the quay, looking out over the water, still weary, still robbed of the ability to get the rest she needed.  The Bay had its usual morning calm, the glassy surface punctuated by the circular ripples of bluefish chasing after insects.  Conditions like this seemed so fitting to the start of a day, a gentle westerly breeze in his face, and the odd silence that allowed one to hear the rumble of a boat's motor from so far away that the boat could not be seen.  It was the sort of time that allowed you to be alone with nature, but he knew that Pam merely felt alone.  Kelly walked out to her as quietly as he could and touched her waist with both his hands.

"Good morning."  She didn't answer for a long time, and Kelly stood still, holding her lightly, just enough that she could feel his touch.  She was wearing one of his shirts, and he didn't want his touch to be sexual, only protective.  He was afraid to press himself on a woman who'd suffered that kind of abuse, and could not predict where the invisible line might be.

"So now you know," she said, just loudly enough to be heard over the silence, unable to turn and face him.

"Yes," Kelly answered, equally quiet.

"What do you think?"  Her voice was a painful whisper.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Pam."  Kelly felt the trembling start, and he had to resist the urge to hold her tighter.

"About me."

"About you?" He allowed himself to get a little closer, altering his hold until his arms wrapped around her waist, but not tightly.  "I think you're beautiful.  I think I'm real glad we met."

"I do drugs."

"The docs say you're trying to quit.  That's good enough for me."

"It's worse than that, I've done things -" Kelly cut her off.

"I don't care about that, Pam.  I've done things, too.  And one thing you did, for me was very nice.  You gave me something to care about, and I didn't ever expect that to happen."  Kelly pulled her tighter.  "The things you did before we met don't matter.  You're not alone, Pam.  I'm here to help if you want me to."

"When you find out..." she warned.

"I'll take my chances.  I think I know the important parts already.  I love you, Pam."  Kelly surprised himself with those words.  He'd been too afraid to voice the thought even to himself.  It was too irrational, but again emotion won out over reason, and reason, for once, found itself approving.

"How can you say that?" Pam asked.  Kelly gently turned her around and smiled.
"Damned if I know!  Maybe it's your tangled hair - or your runny nose."  He touched her chest through the shirt.  "No, I think it's your heart.  No matter what's behind you, your heart is just fine."

"You mean that, don't you?" she asked, looking at his chest.  There was a long moment, then Pam smiled up at him, and that, too, was like a dawn.  The orange-yellow glow of the rising sun lit up her face and highlighted her fair hair.

Kelly wiped the tears from her face, and the wet feel of her cheeks eliminated whatever doubts he might have had.  "We're going to have to get you some clothes.  This is no way for a lady to dress."

"Who says I'm a lady?"