each preserved our own explanation by declining to ask the question that might disprove it.
Elise took out her pen.
For one irrational moment, I thought she might cross the initials out again.
Instead, she moved toward the final entry.
I put my hand over hers.
“Not yet.”
She went still.
I felt the hurt arrive before she tried to conceal it.
“Nathan.”
“I’m not saying no.”
“Then be very careful about how you say the next thing.”
I looked at her hand beneath mine.
“This has been a beautiful
