Ch. 11: Between Us

The letter had arrived without a name, and that was the first thing that frightened her.

Nina crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to. Nina crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to. Nina crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to.

There was a history between them that neither would name, written in the things they did not do. Money could buy a great many things, she had learned, but never the one thing that was wanted most. Nina crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to.

For a heartbeat the careful distance between them thinned to nothing at all. "I'm not asking you to forgive me," Nina said. "I'm asking you to listen."

The truth, when it finally came, was smaller and sharper than she had imagined.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me," Nina said. "I'm asking you to listen." She remembered the first time, and the last, and all the ordinary days in between that had somehow mattered more. Nina crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to.

Tomorrow would ask its questions. Tonight, she let herself simply breathe.