“I don’t trust anyone.” I laughed. That was true, but I didn’t exactly mean to say it. It wasn’t a good look. People think there’s something wrong with a woman who doesn’t trust.

“I don’t care about your sister or your ex,” he mumbled. “But I’ve got to start with something. Whatever was there. It doesn’t just go away, you know.”

I saw something in Ian’s eyes, affection maybe, and I wished for a moment that I was a different person. “Too bad. It would be nice if it did. Go away, that is.” I finished the rest of my wine. “What about you? You haven’t told me about your past.”

“I dated someone for eight years. She said she didn’t believe in marriage. But I thought she’d change her mind.” He shrugged. “Well, she didn’t change her mind. She broke up with me.” Ian spoke quickly, in an upbeat manner. I thought he was making an effort to sound casual.

“I’m sorry.”

“I can’t be mad,” he said. “She never pretended to be someone she wasn’t.”

Was he challenging me? I studied his face. No, he wasn’t. He trusted me.

After we had sex, I lay on top of Ian’s body. My face was right next to Ian’s on his pillow, the tip of my nose touching his cheek. His hair was wet from perspiration, as was the pillow underneath us. “Cheap Thrills” by Sia played on the bedroom speaker.

“Natalie loves this song.” I paused for several seconds. “Have you seen her lately?” I hadn’t seen Natalie for two weeks. I hadn’t told Ian about the strain in my relationship with the Straubs, and I hoped they hadn’t mentioned it to him.

“No,” he said, “but I saw Fritz at work yesterday. Did you hear about their birth mother?”

“No.”

“She got back together with her boyfriend. He reappeared.”

A hard knot inside my abdomen released, and a pleasurable tingling feeling traveled from my organs to my extremities. My body felt buoyant, like I might float up to the ceiling. My photography had brought them together. I knew that. I knew it for a fact. No one could do what I could do.

“Amelia is scared that Lucia’s going to change her mind,” he said.

I needed to see Amelia and Fritz. I needed them to understand that I could help them.

“I feel awful for her,” I said.

“Fritz says she’s a wreck,” he said. “It’s almost like she thinks that’s the only baby she can possibly have.”

“She’s wrong.”

“They’ve been trying for a while.”

My body still on top of his, I allowed my fingers to trail over the side of his hips. I shifted so that my legs were staggered with his—one of my legs over one of his. “There are alternatives.”

“I guess.”