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“Close the flight tabs.”
She looks up. “I was just looking.”
“I know. Close them.”
Her mouth tightens, but she does it.
Colt is at the refrigerator pouring water. He glances at the laptop, then at me, and apparently decides whatever he was about to say can wait.
Tova notices him anyway.
“Colt.”
“No.”
“I didn’t ask anything.”
“You were getting ready to.”
“I looked at you.”
“Exactly.”
I turn my face before either of them catches the smile.
Tova folds her arms. “I was trying to find out what the flights cost.”
“That is not your responsibility.”
“It’s a lot of money.”
“I know.”
“So why can’t I care?”
“You can care. You do not have to decide if a bad connection is worth four hundred dollars. You tell me when you want to go and how long you want to stay. The adults handle the travel.”
“I can travel by myself.”
“I know you can.”
“You don’t sound like you know.”
I put my bag on the counter and sit across from her.
“Being able to do it does not make it your job.”
She studies me, then turns the legal pad around.
“It’s Maja’s birthday. Mormor said if I came the week before, Lina could stay over that weekend.”
There are three names circled in green.
“And how long are you asking for?”
“Four weeks.”
“No.”