I stared at my phone for a long time, considering all the reasons not to do what I wanted to do. And the thought of the way Dominic's absence could still feel like a possession lingered but it didn't stop me from pressing the call.
The line rang twice.
Then –
"Rosalia?" His voice lifted immediately, warm and unmistakably British. There was a smile in it. "Hi. Hi – I didn't expect – I mean, I'm glad. I'm really glad."
My chest loosened.
"Hi, John," I said softly. "I hope I'm not calling at a bad time."
It was almost sun down.
"No, no. Not at all." Papers shuffled on his end, followed by a quiet laugh. "I was pretending to read something very boring. This is considerably better."
I smiled despite myself.
"I –" he began, then stopped. "Before anything else… I want
