Chapter 17: The Terms

"It's safe," I said.

"That isn't what I asked."

"It's the answer I have."

Delphine looked at the lantern, at Cal against the wall, at the sleeping boy on her shoulder.

"Then keep it safe," she said. "He'll look again. He always does."

She went out into the dark with her son, and I stood in the carriage house and listened to her slippers go up the drive.

Neither of us spoke until the porch door closed.

"A deer," Cal said at last.

"I know."

"I'll get the phone from the boat locker tonight. It stays with me."

"All right."

He nodded, and went on standing there, because I hadn't left.

I still had his canvas coat in my arms, where Teddy had been under it.

I held it out.

"I came to give this back," I said. "And to tell you I'm holding to the terms."

Cal took the coat and did not put it on.

"The terms," he said.

"Nothing until the house is mine again. You set them, and I agreed."

"I did."

"So I'm holding to them."

"Nora." His voice was very quiet. "You didn't hold to them on my cot."

My face went hot, all the way to my hairline.

"You didn't hold to your name on that cot, either."

"No."

"I'm still angry."

"I know."

"I'm going to be angry in the morning."

"Good," he said. "You should be."

He didn't move toward me.

He stood with the coat hanging from his bad hand and waited for me to decide.

I crossed the floor.

I put my palm flat against his chest, where I'd put it the first time.

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