I sit back in the booth, completely ignoring my oatmeal. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t what I want. But if it’s not what you want, you only have to say so.”

She shakes her head, and I’m sure I’m about to get shot down. But then she surprises me with, “I never stopped thinking of the apartment as home.”

“If you weren’t comfortable at Maggie’s, you should have said so.”

“I am comfortable there. I love Maggie. But it isn’t home.”

She takes a bite of her pancake, and I want to scoop her up and take her right here. But that would be frowned upon.

“Do you think it’ll hurt Maggie’s feelings if I move out?”

“I don’t care, to be perfectly honest.”

She laughs at me, and the sound makes all the hair stand up on my body. “Yes, you do.”

“I don’t think it’ll hurt her feelings.”

“Well, good. Because I don’t want to do that. I’m grateful to her for letting me stay there. It’s a really cute little house.”

“Does this mean you’re moving in with me, then?”

She blinks up at me. “Isn’t that what we’re talking about?”

“I asked, and then you started thinking and talking about Mary Margaret.”

I now understand what my da meant when he said he’d like to toss Ma into the sea, and yet he can’t live without her.

Izzy laughs and then wipes her mouth with her napkin. “Yes. I’m moving in.”

“Today.”

She continues laughing and then stares at me with a happy smile that lights up the entire diner. It’s no wonder that I’m completely gone for her.

“I can go pack today and have a chat with Maggie.”

“While you do that, I’ll go over to the flat and clear out some space for your things.”

“I’ve bought more things since I was there last.”

“You can have the entire place if that’s what you want.”

“No, I think the purpose is to share the space. That’s what moving in together means.”

The waitress arrives with the check, and I give her my card before she can walk away.

Once I’ve paid, and we’re in my truck, I take Izzy’s hand and kiss her knuckles. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Moving in with me. Have you already forgotten?”

She’s laughing again, and the sound makes my heart happy. “You don’t have to thank me for that. Thank you for sharing your space.”

“Our space.”

She nods, and I pull in behind her little convertible at Maggie’s.

“I’ll be over in an hour or two. I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to pack.”

“Let me know if you need any help.”