Chapter 20: The Night Before

Ethan's POV

We got home at midnight, and neither of us turned on a light.

Molly stood at the kitchen window with her back to me and her coat still on.

The water outside was black, and the dock lamp laid a short yellow path across it.

"Ask me," she said.

"Ask you what?"

"What I'm going to do."

"No."

She turned.

"You're not curious?"

"I'm out of my mind with it," I said. "I'm not going to ask."

She laughed once, tired, and took her coat off.

"I'll tell you anyway. I'm going to say yes."

My chest went tight.

"Not for her," Molly said. "Not for Diane, not for the doctor, not for the foundation or the family."

"For Sylvie?"

"For Sylvie. She gave Gilbert his ring back so I'd know it was my choice, and I want to be someone who makes that kind of choice."

She breathed out.

"I'll go to a real team. I'll have my own doctors. Diane is never in the room."

"And me?"

"I want you in the waiting room." She came across the kitchen. "I want you to be annoying about the coffee."

"I'm told I'm good at that."

"You're terrible at it."

She stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel her breath.

"Tomorrow I marry you in front of half of Connecticut," she said.

"I know."

"I want tonight to be just us, with nobody watching and nothing to prove."

"The terms," I said.

"Which one are we on?"

"I've lost count."

"I haven't." She put her hand flat on my chest. "Number three. I keep my own money and my own job."

"And five?"

"Either of us can end it with thirty days' notice."

"And?"

"I'm not giving notice," Molly said.

I picked her up.

I had not planned to, and she gave a startled laugh and locked her legs around my waist.

I carried her to the table and sat her on the edge of it.

There was still flour in the grain of the wood from the week before.

She pulled me in by the shirt.

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