"Go up and grab your skates," Bail said to Elizabeth, and at the same time he waived Ben in. The car was out back anyway so they'd have to go through the house to get to it.

By the time the door was shut, Elizabeth was up the stairs, and Bail felt he could lean and give Ben a kiss.

"Thank you," he said, and then he added optimistically, "It's going well so far, I think." And he hoped Ben saw it that way, too.