He stayed
Not overnight that was not what “don't go” meant and he understood that completely. He stayed for another hour after the water and the resettling of Seren and the specific quiet of an apartment with a sleeping child in it.
They sat on her couch with a reasonable distance between them and talked about nothing important about the science museum and New One's chances of surviving the winter and whether Gerald had always had that particular quality of smugness or if it had developed gradually with the morning light.
It was the most ordinary hour Nia could remember spending with another adult in a very long time.
When he left at ten fifteen he paused at the door.
"Saturday," he said.
"Saturday," she agreed.
He left.
She stood in her hallway for a moment after the door closed
