But Susanne showed no reaction at all. Either she had put on her impenetrable I’m-at-work mask, or someone calling Anja her girlfriend was the most normal thing in the world for her.

Anja hoped it was the latter but had a feeling it might be the former.

With a wave and a “see you Saturday,” Miri slipped out of the store.

Susanne stared after her. “Hey, she didn’t give your heart back.”

She never had it, Anja wanted to say. Not the way— She cut herself off before she could finish the thought. One day at a time, remember?

She tugged on Susanne’s hand. “I wrote a blog post about scented inks earlier. Want to see it?”

“Sure, but do I have time to get myself a cup of coffee first?”

Aww. Apparently, Susanne had jumped out of bed and rushed to work without making coffee, either eager to see her or not wanting to leave her alone with the work at the store. Both options were pretty touching.

Anja flashed a teasing grin. “There’s coffee-scented ink.”

“Is it drinkable?”

“I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Then I need coffee first. And this.” Susanne pulled her close by their joined hands and kissed her quickly but firmly. Then she went to get coffee for them both, leaving Anja with a kiss-induced smile on her lips.

“Finally!” Susanne leaned back in her recliner and pressed the phone to her ear. “Reaching you is harder than getting an audience with the pope! I’ve been trying to call you since yesterday, but it kept going to voice mail.”

“Sorry about that,” Franzi answered. “But you’d better get used to it. I talk to Miri a lot right now, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.”

Was that what she and Anja would be doing in the future too? Seeing each other only two or three weekends a month and talking on the phone every evening?

Would that be so bad?

“So this isn’t just some fun weekend fling, is it?” Susanne asked.

“That first weekend when I met her, I thought that was all it was gonna be, but now… I admit I’m pretty smitten with her.”

“That’s great. I like her. I mean, she’s a little crazy, but that makes her a good fit for you.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault that I got all the fun genes and you ended up with the dependable, boring ones.”

Susanne let out a snort. “You wish.”

“By the way, I’m coming down to Freiburg this weekend. I want to check on Uncle Nobby.”

“Uncle Norbert. That’s who you’ll come to see. Sure.”

“Well, maybe not just him,” Franzi admitted. “No need to make up the couch for me this time. I’m staying with Miri.”

Susanne hadn’t expected anything else. “God, you really are smitten.”

“Oh, and you aren’t?”