Chapter 5

Over the next few days, Theo stopped asking where his meals were. He asked Mara what she wanted to cook and brought the ingredients to the counter. She cooked; he washed up. When she reached for a plate, he was usually already holding it.

One evening Mara found an old film of his on television. She settled on the couch as the opening scene started.

"Don't watch that," Theo said from the doorway.

"Why?"

"I was terrible in it."

"Then sit down and tell me what you'd do differently."

He stayed standing until his character appeared on screen. Then he sat at the far end of the couch. Mara watched him sneak a look at her during a scene he clearly remembered. She kept her eyes on the film, but she noticed him relax when she laughed at the right moment.

His phone lit up. Theo checked the name and stood. "I need to take this."

Mara had already seen it: Delia Wen. "Put it on speaker."

"It's a personal call."

"Then you won't need to hide it."

He made a face, but tapped the speaker icon. "Hi, Delia."

"Theo, are you busy tonight?" Delia's voice came through bright and warm. "I'm going live in an hour. My viewers would love it if you dropped in and sang something. Just one song."

"Tonight?" Theo looked at the television, still playing his younger self, and then at Mara.

"It'll be fun," Delia said. "You don't need to prepare anything. I can send you the link."

"Sure, I could—"

Mara held up her hand. He stopped. She pointed at the phone and mouthed, Your song. Her audience.

Theo frowned. Delia was already talking about what time he could join. She hadn't asked whether he had plans; she hadn't mentioned paying him. She had only told him where she wanted him to sing.

"Theo?" Delia asked. "You can do it, can't you?"

He looked at Mara. Her hand was still raised. She was waiting for him to make his own choice, but she wasn't going to pretend she approved.

"I—" he started.

A sharp crack came from beside the couch. Mara had gripped the drinking glass she'd set on the table. A fine line ran down its side. She placed it carefully on a coaster, still watching him.

Theo stared at the crack, his answer caught halfway out. Delia called his name again through the phone.