Page 239 of Say My Name

“There was an incident this afternoon.”

“What kind of incident?”

“One that doesn’t need describing before you eat.”

She closes the refrigerator. “Fair.”

I hand her a glass. “Cliff called. He wants to know whether we've booked the New York flights.”

“We haven't.”

“I know.”

Elena lowers the glass, her gaze steady on mine. “You could’ve booked them.” It’s a test, and a fair one.

“We agreed to look at your schedule after today’s presentation.” A year ago, I would have arranged it all and called it care. I know better now.

The trip is simple. Four days in New York next month so Cliff, Rachel, Sophie, and Theo can spoil the baby while Elena and I discover how much equipment a very small person requires. Elena has a committee session that week. I know her calendar well enough to book around it, but it isn't my decision to make alone.

“Thursday night through Monday morning? You won’t have to miss the session.”

“And your investor dinner?”

“Evan can handle it.”

“You've already missed two dinners this quarter.”

“I assigned them to someone else.”

“That’s a rather fine distinction.”

“It's accurate.”

She studies me over the rim of her glass. “Thursday through Monday works.”

“I'll book it tomorrow.”

“After you send me the itinerary.”

“Obviously.”

She sets down her glass and crosses the kitchen. I catch her hips when she reaches me.

“I need you to take tomorrow morning.” She says it without looking away. “Six until eight. I need two uninterrupted hours before the committee call, and after the last three nights, I'm going to be useless if I handle another early wake-up.”

The request is plain and direct. Months ago, she would've spent twenty minutes proving she could manage alone if I said no.

“I’ve got it.” The answer is immediate, without calculation. A year ago, I would have checked three calendars first.

“Even if you have a call?”

“I’ll move it.” The decision takes less than a second. For twenty years, my calendar was fixed. Now, it’s just paper.

She nods. “Thank you.”

I pull her closer and kiss her forehead. “Go to bed.”

She stays against me.