When he got back home, Helen had forgiven him, but he had never forgiven himself. And neither had McDougal. The following day, he asked for David’s resignation, citing long-standing conflicts and subpar work. For some reason, Killingly had gone along with it, and David was out of a job. He had trouble finding work; the days stretched into weeks, into months. Worst of all was knowing he had the experience and the training but there was just nothing out there, not for him.

When he pulled into the circle in front of the Frontenac it was almost nine o’clock. The wind had died a little, but as he stepped from the car, gusts blew tiny spirals of snow around his feet and along in front of him until they disappeared over the edge of the terrace. Off the edge of the world. He felt a strange urge to follow them, just step off that edge and welcome with open arms whatever lay beyond. It’s only a thirty-foot drop, he reminded himself sarcastically. What do you think you’ll find? China?

Upstairs, he opened the door to their room and Jessie flung herself on him immediately. He picked her up and swung her high above his head, marveling as always how incredibly light she was, and the thrill he felt knowing she was his own flesh and blood.

“Welcome home, Daddy,” Helen said, coming up behind him and shutting the door. She put her arms around his waist, squeezing. “Jessie’s been waiting for you all evening. Me too.”

David pulled her to him, with Jessie between them. “Daddy, you’re smushing me,” she protested with a squirm. He laughed and hiked her up on his shoulders so he could give his wife a quick kiss.

“So, how did it go?” Helen asked. “Did you knock ‘em dead?”

David swung his daughter down and plopped her into a chair. “It was hell. The FERC was there. They threw some report at me that I couldn’t make heads or tails of, and practically accused us of single-handedly poisoning the universe.”

“I’ll kill ‘em,” Helen said, putting up her fists in a mock boxing pose. “Let me at ‘em.”

David laughed. “Calm down, Wonder Woman. I think I did okay.”

“I’m sure you did just fine.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “How’s the house?”

“Not bad,” he said carefully. “It’s very pretty, actu- ally.”

“And…”

“And nothing. Not much else around except woods.”

Helen frowned, her lips pouting prettily. “Well, what are we going to do, man-of-the-house?” she asked.

“I thought I’d leave the final decision up to you two.”

“Some man you are,” she teased. “If it’s pretty, let’s do it. Why not? We’re not paying for it. And it’s probably the only thing we’re going to find in the area.”

“Jessie?” He turned to his daughter. “What do you think?”