After a while, we were all simply holding silence in Sharon’s yurt, and LaKeemba reminded us that we had a big day tomorrow, that we all needed our rest. Sharon had given her bed to Mayuri and Lili, so Sharon went with Charlie and Jed to get her set up to sleep on the fold-out sofa in the farmhouse. Alonso walked me back to my yurt.
“You can sleep in my bed if you want,” I said, unsure of my invitation but very sure I didn’t want to be alone.
“I would like that, Mavis, to have your company on this hard night. But I would not rest with you so near.” He leaned down and kissed me softly. “I will be here to see you at first light. We will prepare for the day together.”
Alonso turned and walked across the field to his yurt. I put my fingers to my lips—my first kiss, and it was the most perfe
