The melody threaded through the branches of the caged trees and hung above the river, silvery and medieval and haunting.

“Should we try to stay for the opening?” I asked.

“What, a whole ’nother week? Wouldn’t we be pushing our luck? Claire didn’t want me to come with you in the first place.”

“I wanted you to come.”

“I don’t know why.”

“Maybe you’ll want to do your master’s now.”

Her face closed up again. “Who knows? Maybe.”

“Wouldn’t it be fun to go to the opening?”

She gave me a straight look. “You want to stay to see your ex again, don’t you?”

“Antonio?” I scoffed. “I wouldn’t stick around for him.”

“No,” said Alison after a minute. “I think I have to get home.”

•  •  •

I extended my ticket for a week, telling Claire, “I owe you big-time . . .” I dropped Antonio an email to let him know my change of plans, and received an equally brief response. Maybe we could meet again before I returned.

“You sound different,” said Robin on the phone.

“Claire asked me to stay. Next time you’re coming with me.”

“Aren’t you homesick?”

“It’s just another week.”

“I miss you . . .” he said hopefully. “Are you seeing Antonio again?”

“Why?”

“Just wondered.”

“He’s very busy. What’s been going on there? I couldn’t get through. Are we still having Christmas at the lake?”

“Why wouldn’t we?”

“It’s going to be as hard as the anniversary.”

“I know.”

“Have you run into Norma and Tanner?” I said. “From the yellow house?”

“Just a sec . . . thought I had a call coming in. No. Yes,” he said. “Norma’s been over a couple of times.”

“She has? She didn’t mention it.”

“Why would she mention it?”

“We’ve been texting.”

“What happened was, her workmen cut through a cable. From there to the peninsula no one had power for over a day. She came looking for advice.”

“Yes, she told me. Nice, isn’t she?”

“Very. Haven’t met the husband yet. He seems to leave everything to her.”

“Different?” I asked suddenly. “How do I sound different?”

“Hyped up. You’re not snorting cocaine, by any chance?”

“Ha! No, being over here is making me feel better. No one knows me.”

“Well, do what you need to do, Eve.”

“So you don’t mind?”

“Of course not!”

“I’ll come back now, if you want,” I said.

“Don’t be silly.” He had recovered his good humor. “Are you getting by with your English?”

“They’ve understood me so far.”

“Two countries divided by the same language.”

“Who said that? Churchill?”

“Wilde, maybe. Sounds like him. My favorite deathbed quote: “ ‘Either that wallpaper goes or I do.’ ”

“Robin . . .”

“Sorry!” he said tenderly. “I’m an idiot. Sorry.”

•  •  •