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“Already?”

“I have work Monday.”

“And the girls.”

“Yes.”

He looked suddenly young.

“You’ll come again?”

“As soon as I can.”

He nodded.

Leah stroked his hair.

“I love you.”

“Love you too.”

The words came automatically.

They belonged to memory.

I looked toward the window.

When I turned back, Noah was watching me.

I could not read his expression.

Leah stood and hugged me near the door.

“He’ll find you,” she whispered.

I closed my eyes.

“Don’t promise things you can’t control.”

“I’m not promising memory.”

“Then what?”

She pulled back.

“You.”

I did not understand.

She left before I could ask.

Noah had fallen asleep.

The blue album rested on his table.

I sat beside him until the room darkened and the harbor lights appeared beyond the glass.

Chapter 6