Page 237 of Romeo

Me: Still smart.

Ma Belle: You would encourage him

Me: Obviously.

Ma Belle: This is why you’re not in charge of children.

Me: Says who?

Ma Belle: Me.

Me: We’ll revisit that decision.

I looked at the message after I sent it. We’d talked about kids before, but that conversation had been vague enough to hide behind. Someday. Somebody. A future neither of us had attached to the other.

This one sounded different.

Apparently, Fiona thought so too.

Ma Belle: We will?

My attention sharpened.

Me: You tell me, Cher.

Ma Belle: You’re the one making plans again.

Me: I’m asking questions.

Ma Belle: Very suspicious questions

Me: You answered.

Ma Belle: Maybe I’m curious.

Me: About?

Ma Belle: Things.

I laughed.

Me: You really love that word.

Ma Belle: It’s useful.

Me: It’s evasive.

Ma Belle: Says the man who refuses to tell me where the imaginary house is.

That stopped me.

I read the message again, grinning slowly.

She’d been thinking about the house after our conversation ended.

The giant kitchen. Library. Two porches. That fucking porch light that had reached into my chest because I understood exactly what she meant without needing her to explain it.

Me: Thought we established Nebraska.