Jackie pulled the needle through, dragging a thin fiber away from the torn seam until it caught, crimping the loose edges of fabric. With a studious gaze, she lifted the dress slightly up and sank the steel talon another increment along the tear. Pulling, cinching and circling again, she added another stitch to close the gap in the bodice, methodically repairing the violent rent.
A pounding struck the apartment door. Jackie smiled quizzically, skewered the fabric to hold the needle, and set the darning onto a low end table. Another volley of knocks hit the door.
"Jackie!" Tom yelled, his angry voice muffled by the wood barrier.
"Just a second, Tom," Jackie said as she brushed a loose thread from her lap and pushed a stray lock of yellow hair behind her ear. "Give me a chance." She opened the door.
Tom pushed past Jackie, determined to assert his presence. Surveying the apartment with rapid looks from side to side, as if hoping to catch sight of some scurrying rodent, Tom turned unsatisfied to cast a mean glare at Jackie.
"I wasn't expecting you," she said, calmly.
"I'll say not," he said, implying something indefinite in his words.
"Can I get you something to drink?" she asked, stepping toward the kitchen. Tom grabbed Jackie's arm, halting her.
"You've been cheating on me," he snarled.
"Tom," said Jackie, pulling herself deftly from his tight grasp.
"It's true," he said, his lips twisting in growing fury.
