“What I’ve been thinking,” Marcy said, rubbing her scarred hand as she often did unconsciously, “is that a time might be coming when I will want to move in with Henry, and if I did I wondered if you’d like Dan to buy out my share of this place?”

Claudia’s eyes widened with surprise. She hadn’t seen that coming, although perhaps she should have, certainly where her mother and Henry were concerned.

“Is it a good idea?” Marcy prompted.

Claudia said, cautiously, “I guess so, provided he wants to, but I don’t think I can ask him.”

“It’s OK, I’m just putting it to you as a possible that we both might like to consider.”

Unable to deny that it was something she was glad to think about, Claudia said, “Do you have any kind of time frame in mind?”

“No, not really, but with Jasmine off to uni next September I thought now would be a good time to start planning ahead.”

That was just over nine months away, and Claudia was getting the impression that her mother would like these changes to happen sooner. “So, will you ask Henry?” she asked. “Or will you wait for him to ask you?”

“I’m not sure. What do you think I should do?”

Claudia pondered it.

“Actually, I think we ought to talk to Dan first, because if he doesn’t want to buy into this place with you I won’t want to leave you here on your own,” Marcy declared.

“That’s just silly,” Claudia scolded, smarting at the fear of Dan turning her down. “If it comes to it and you’re ready to move in with Henry, I’ll use the money I took from Marcus—my money—to buy you out.”

“But it would be better if Dan was here. Maybe you could talk it over with him, tell him I’ll give him an excellent price . . .”

“Mum, I can’t just . . .”

“Listen, I’ve seen you two together, so if you want my opinion he’s not suggesting this himself because he wouldn’t want me to think he’s trying to crowd the nest, or push me out.”

Accepting there was a chance that might be true, Claudia said, “OK, for the record, between us, I think it’s a great idea, especially as you’ll only be one thousand seven hundred and eight steps away if you do go.”

Coming to hug her, Marcy said, “Talk to him and let me know what he says.”

DAN BLINKED, ALMOST as though he might not have heard correctly. “Would you like to run that past me again?” he prompted.

Trying not to be annoyed that she was having to ask twice when once had already been awkward enough, Claudia was about to begin again when she caught the tease in his eyes and slanted him a menacing look.

“Come here,” he said softly.