Page 80 of Don't Tell

She is quiet for a long time.

"I have to move out of the apartment anyway. So…fine. But you cannot decide for me. You cannot make a single decision about my life without talking to me first."

"Yes."

"Anything that happens, Cade. Anything. We talk about it. Always."

"Yes."

"I mean it."

"I know."

She turns her head.

She looks at me for the first time.

Her face is not closed. Her eyes are tired and dark, and the place at her throat that will, in two days, hold my mother's locket is still bare.

"I’m going to trust you to do this differently. Don't make me regret it."

"I won't."

I sit down on the wall beside her.

The water laps. The pond darkens. Somewhere on the far side of the property, a bird calls twice and stops.

After a long minute, she leans her shoulder against mine.

I close my eyes.

We walk back up to the main house together. Her hand in mine. Her palm is cold against my warm one, and the gravel crunches beneath our feet.

Vivienne is in the doorway. Henry has come out to stand beside her. He has put his jacket on.

Beau is on the porch.

I walk Suzanne up the steps and stop in front of them.

I take a breath. "I want to introduce you to someone."

Beau sits up. Vivienne's eyes go to me and stay.

"This is Suzanne."

I look at Suzanne, then at my mother. I look at Beau and at Henry and back at my mother.

"She is my girlfriend."

Vivienne's face lights up like she has waited for this for a long time, and it finally just happened in front of her.

She doesn’t cry.

She steps forward and takes Suzanne's hand in both of hers.

"I'm so glad to meet you. Properly."

"I — "