Chapter 14: House Rules

Alexander came back at seven with a garment bag and a paper sack of takeout.

We ate at my father's table with the neighbor's last slice of casserole between us.

I had meant to keep it to myself.

I made it to the second forkful.

"Lenora came by," I said.

His fork stopped.

"She cried, and she brought wine."

"And?"

"She told me that once the vote is done, Braden means to marry me. Six months, she said."

I pushed a noodle across my plate.

"Then she asked me to sign the renewal at the old rent."

Alexander put the fork down.

"Tilda."

"I know."

"That is entirely about the firm."

"I know it is."

"In this house." He was trying not to smile and failing. "I believe somebody made a rule."

"Somebody is very sorry."

"Somebody broke it inside of a day."

"Somebody is going to hit you with this casserole dish."

He laughed, the low one, and reached across the table and took my wrist.

"Come here," he said. "I'll forgive you upstairs."

I took him up to my room.

It was my old room, with the narrow window and the quilt my mother had left.

I hadn't slept in that bed since I was twenty.

He stood just inside the door and looked at the shelf of paperbacks and the faded poster.

"Don't say anything," I said.

"I wasn't going to."

He crossed the floor and put his hands on my face.

"I'm going to be careful with your whole life," he said. "And then I'm going to take my time with you."

He kissed me before I could answer.

It was a different kiss from the kitchen.

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