Chapter 23: Four Quarters

Eli woke on the glass floor with his jacket over two people and the bay going silver in every window.

Matilda slept with her face against his collarbone and one hand curled in his shirt.

He lay without moving for a long time, because he had never once seen the house look like this.

His phone buzzed on the floor at seven.

He slid out from under her and laid the jacket over her shoulder.

He took the call in the kitchen with the door pulled to.

"Eli, it's the magazine," a woman's voice said. "Have you seen the news?"

"Some of it."

"Don't be modest. It's all anyone's talking about, and it's been very good for the Cape Elizabeth feature."

"What feature?"

"The glass house. We held the cover. You've been shortlisted for the Harbor Prize."

"I see."

"The committee wants a photographer on the property by Friday."

Eli looked through the doorway at the long room.

A woman lay under his jacket on the floor, with her blue dress puddled beside the window.

"Don't send anyone yet," he said. "Give me until noon."

"Eli, it's the best thing you've built. They won't offer it twice."

"I know. Noon."

He put the phone face down on the counter.

When he looked up, Matilda was standing in the doorway in his jacket.

Her hair was flat on one side, and her feet were bare.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"The magazine. I'm going to tell them to withdraw the house from the Prize, and then I'm going to sell it."

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