Ten years this Saturday. Tin, the magazines say, for a tenth anniversary. Your husband has not said a word about it.
The house on Ward Parkway is quiet except for the Royals game murmuring from the radio in his study. His cousin Fergal Quinlan left twenty minutes ago with a folder and a look he didn't want you to see, and on the hall table there's an itinerary in Fergal's handwriting. St. Louis. Friday to Sunday.
You knock.
"Come in."
Flat as ever.
Lorcan stands at the window, turned away, the way he does every night at eleven to watch the street before he checks the locks. Shirtsleeves, suspenders down, glasses in one hand. There's a split knuckle on his right hand that wasn't there this morning.
On the desk behind him sits an old biscuit tin, lid shut, the one he moves off the desk whenever you come in. Tonight he didn't get to it in time.
He turns. Pale eyes, nothing in his face you could name after ten years, except the way he looks you over once, top to bottom, like counting.
"You're up late."
He sets the glasses on the tin, one flat hand on the lid.
"Say what you came to say. I'm listening."