“Noon,” I answered brightly. I was trying to portray a lightness and positivity that I was hoping would help generate the mood.

“Do you have anything exciting going on at the shelter today?” he asked as he put toothpaste on his toothbrush and stood next to me at the sink.

I wasn’t sure if the diversion from the topic of his interview was a good sign or a bad one.

“Nothing much,” I said. “But I am going to work on a project here when I get home.”

“Oh? What is it?”

I finished brushing my hair and waited for Michael to finish brushing his teeth. This idea had come to me a few days ago, and as soon as it did, I realized how perfect it would be.

“Well, we have all that rooftop space, and I’ve already started a little garden. I was up there the other day looking at it and it dawned on me that I wanted to put something really special up there—something that reminded me of us, and that would make the rooftop a magical place for us to enjoy together.”

“Sounds amazing,” he smiled as he wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned up against the sink to hold me. “What is it?”

“A greenhouse.”

“Like the one on the aquarium rooftop?” he asked with a spark of intrigue in his eye.

There was that spark again. I’d been missing it lately.

“Yes, just like that one. Although maybe not quite as large. What do you think? Do you like the idea?”

“Yes,” he said as he pulled me against his body and kissed me. “I love it.”

“I’m so glad you like the idea,” I smiled.

“It almost makes up for you setting me up for this interview,” he scowled playfully at me.

“Oh just go,” I pressed. “Who knows, maybe it will end up being just what you need.”

Michael’s eyes narrowed and he stared at me as if he was studying every aspect of my face. His expression turned serious and intense.

“I have everything that I need as long as you and I are together,” he said.

I could see the longing in his eyes and feel the tightening grip around my waist.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “It just seems like lately you might need something more. I don’t know what that could be, and it worries me.”

“Lisette, there is nothing in the world that I could ever possibly need more than you. I promise you that I am fine.”

“You don’t want to go back to America?” I asked.

“No.”

“And you’re happy here in this apartment with me alone?”

“Of course I am. Tell you what—when we both get home later, I will show you just how much I love being in this apartment with you.”

“How?” I asked as I pressed my pelvis into his hips.

“By making love to you in every single room of this place, like we should have done when we first got here.”

“Deal!” I said eagerly.

When I got to the shelter, my mind was completely preoccupied with the thought of making love to Michael all night when we got home. I was also watching the clock to see when he would be done with his interview. I was dying to know how it went, and by the looks of how long it was taking, I assumed that it was going well.

“Hey, did you hear?” Anna asked as she came around the corner with a big smile on her face that made her petite lips look as if she was posing for a lipstick ad in a magazine.

“Hear what?” I asked.

“Oh you definitely haven’t heard yet if you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“Then tell me,” I pleaded out of curiosity.

“I can’t,” she said as she shook her head excitedly. “I can’t ruin the surprise for you by hearing it from me first. It’s not my news to tell.”

“What is it?” Adam called as he came around the corner to where Anna and I were standing. “Did Michael get the job?”

“Adam, you’ve ruined it!” Anna pouted. Her lips even looked perfect when she was pouting.

“Oh my god, is that it?” I asked in excitement. “He got the job? As headmaster? Are you kidding me?”

Anna laughed and nodded her head.

“Yep, he got the job. I guess the hiring board was really impressed with him and even though he didn’t have a whole lot of experience, he had enough lived experience to make them think that he was qualified to have the position.”

Wow. I can’t believe he got it. I mean, of course I thought he was the best person to be headmaster at the university, and of course I knew that he had more valuable experience than most would ever have in their lifetime (even if it wasn’t exactly traditional experience). I was just surprised that the university’s hiring board thought that too.

“This is wonderful news,” I said with a swelling happiness.

“Yes,” she said. “It is. Now you just need to get him to accept the position.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Didn’t he already?”

“No. He told the board that he would think their offer over tonight and get back to them tomorrow with an answer. To my knowledge, no one has ever made the hiring board wait for an answer. I bet their blood is boiling right now,” Anna chuckled.

“I wonder why he didn’t call to tell me about it yet,” I said, thinking that I had used my inside voice, but then realizing that it came out of my mouth.

“I’m sure that he’ll call you any minute now,” Adam said.

“Actually,” Anna reached into her pocket to pull out a note. “He asked me earlier to give this to you.”

I took the little piece of folded paper from her hand and opened it. Inside there were only a few words scrawled in Michael’s handwriting.

“Every room.” The two words were all that the note said, but it was more than enough to feel like I absolutely ached for the day to be drawing to a close so that I could go home to the apartment and make love Michael endlessly until we both collapsed in a mound of happiness in whatever room we happened to be in.

I could barely think straight all day, and twice Adam had to snap me out of my daydreaming. By the time I was ready to go, I practically ran to the car to get home. When I got to the apartment, things seemed normal. Surprisingly normal. Michael was in the kitchen pouring two glasses of wine, and he looked up with a smile when I walked in.