She laughed. “Sorry. It’s not much different here. Chilly and blustery.”

“Bugger.”

“My thoughts exactly. But it should turn by the weekend. Sunny skies on the way.”

“Bliss. Go on, tell me more.”

“Well,” she said, puffing out a plume of air. She set the tea mug back on her nightstand. “How long has it been since we talked. Three weeks?”

“Sorry. This virus has thrown a spanner in the works. I was closing up shop at the university when the opportunity to join this project came up. No one expected me to be free.”

“That’s a great opportunity, Gordon. I understand. Truly.”

“And I’ve been on a boat the past week. No reception.”

“Do you get seasick?”

He shook his head. “I’m one of the lucky ones. But there were some days out there when the sea got pretty choppy.”

“I’d die. I get so seasick on choppy water.”

“Enough about bad weather. I have plenty of that. Tell me what’s new,” Gordon prodded. “I want to hear every tiny detail.”

Linnea leaned back against the pillow. Luna seized the opportunity to climb up her chest and begin licking her face.

“Well, that’s something new,” Gordon said, leaning forward to peer into the phone. “When did you get a dog? And tell it to stop licking your face. That’s my job.”

“Try telling Luna that,” she said with a laugh, moving the puppy to her side. Pushing back a fallen lock of hair, she began telling him about all that had transpired the previous few weeks.

“And I thought I was busy,” he said. “I’m sorry to hear David was sick. Was it coronavirus?”

“We don’t know for sure, but he had all the symptoms.”

“We don’t know much about it, so Cara is smart to take care with Hope.” He swirled his drink and asked, “How was it being a nanny?”

“Whatever they’re paid, it’s not enough,” she quipped. She heard him laugh and it made her feel lighter inside. This was what she was hoping for tonight. “It’s so hard. You never really get a break. And, for the record, I was more than a nanny—I was the stand-in mommy. We’re talking twenty-four/seven. Tears, histrionics, food fights, defiance… I survived it all. And I love Hope! Imagine if I didn’t.” She shook her head. “The puppy was my prize at the end.”

“Do you think so?” he asked doubtfully. “Have you ever had a puppy before? They can be a lot of work. Like a baby with a tail. How did you end up keeping the dog?”

She laughed, thinking how spot-on he was. “Turns out Hope is allergic. So, lucky me, I got to keep Luna. I’m besotted. She’s the sweetest dog. You’re going to love her.” She paused and said more seriously, “But children? It was an eye-opener. Honestly, there were days I didn’t think I ever wanted to have children.”

“But you do?” he asked, a subtle shift in his tone. “Want to have children.”