He stayed in a hotel.
Rebecca met him before I did.
She questioned him like a detective.
He loved her immediately.
I did not trust him all at once.
Trust returned in pieces.
He told me when he was afraid.
I told him when I was angry.
We stopped protecting each other from uncomfortable truths.
A year later, I returned to Malta.
David waited at the airport.
This time, he did not pretend our meeting was chance.
He held up a sign that read:
ELEANOR, AGE 68. STILL SAYING YES?
I laughed.
Then I changed the sign with a pen from my purse.
SOMETIMES.
David read it and smiled.
“That’s better.”
Last night, we ate at the same harbor restaurant.
The waiter greeted David by name.
I did not feel afraid.
Clara joined us for dessert.
Before we left, David led me into the courtyard.
For one second, I remembered overhearing him there.
“No surprises,” he said.
“Good.”
“No hidden plans.”
“Better.”
“I would like to spend whatever time we have left traveling between your home and mine.”
I looked at him.
