door is ha

hear him inside. Papers shifting. The low murmur of his voice on the phon

ys. "I'll tak

n't need a

owly, then knoc

wers. "I'll c

t follows is imm

?" he

ves rolled up, tie loosened. His laptop screen casts a pale glow acro

just looks at him.

he says softly. "It

han

and stayed w

n, briefly. "Did y

ps insid

e says. "About the supplier issue. He

got it

sharp, it was

quickly. "I just t

Av

ke something fragile and mispla

ghtens at the

r. Rubs a hand over his mo

trying to

kn

let m

he wall behind her instead of

e barel

m fi

u're

the bookshelf

esk. Puts her hand on the

he says, quieter now. "You d

lides the papers out

I'll ha

spended for a second

k I can't?

ot what I'

unds li

ike you're sh

rs. There's something there.

't want you i

in every mes

this

hy

hair rolls back with a sof

echo in the

and they star

clenched. The way his shoulders are

to protect me,"

t protec

at are yo

d and closed. He

ut of it," he says. "J

his voice makes

" she w

the matter is settle

versatio

e should. Waiting for something-an apology, a s

leaves the study and clo

it shuts a

, the house f

d folding. Rearranges the bookshelf

ll rings, the so

ie's familiar grin an

inside without waiting. "You lo

a smile. "Hi

into a hug befor

es right there

squinting at her.

oth

oes. "You get this tiny wrinkle right her

nd away, but the

Sophie asks, glancin

the s

ork

m-h

ce a moment longer. Th

rd the kitchen.

ttle, even though neither of th

me help," she

th w

fixable." She grips the counter. "I tried to go through option

nst the island. "M

s stre

Sophi

ays handled st

Maybe he wants to feel li

morless. "Since when has

e he feels l

ks at he

k I'm over

efully, "that you two have

not an

s closer. "Y

not the q

he lov

ilence s

ices. "What

ook at me," Av

expressi

uch half the week. And when I try to help him with somethin

cracks on t

hes for her

to reach him anym

eed to reach. Maybe

t for

o figure hi

gently. "What if he fig

les. "You're

Am

"You always do this. You assu

ume everything will

sually

like

gain. "Have you asked him

he's han

that's t

t feel like

s. "Then giv

the hallway, the s

ant me near it

arms. "You can't for

trying to

kind o

nds. "I just... I don't w

u're

els lik

arried, not merged. He's allowed

though it doesn't

the kitchen. "So. Whe

links.

. Dad pretends not

on't

t know?" S

s happeni

lways a lot

t the counter. "I just

er eyes slightly.

ayb

a weekend

think a

at you said

intly. "You so

d fo

and for a second

itcase by the door. "By

how

we

k?" Ava

grins. "

idn't w

arning

re's relief in her eyes. "Fin

nt anyway." Sophie pauses, studying he

oesn't

hallway, the st

en glance

in hand. He freezes slig

ophie wav

he says

s. "Do you r

ll smile. "Somet

flick brie

m and hugs him. He hugs

, how are you doing?

m fi

back. "You two takin

h," h

swa

between them b

clapping her hands once. "

glances

ys, pointing at him.

hesi

finally not sur

, he passes Ava close enough th

warmth of him.

back, wondering how someone can be s