“What?”
“The wager.”
She smiled.
“I won first week.”
“No.”
He came closer.
“The real one.”
She looked up.
“What was real one?”
“Whether this house could become home again.”
Her smile disappeared.
Reid sat beside her.
“Martha made it home.”
“I thought when she died that part died too.”
“Then you came.”
Lena touched his hand.
“I didn't replace her.”
“No.”
“I know.”
He looked toward stairs.
“You built something different.”
Lena leaned against him.
For several minutes they listened to wind.
Then Reid said:
“I have something.”
He reached into pocket.
Small key.
She frowned.
“What?”
“Old desk.”
“In bedroom.”
“I know desk.”
“No.”
“The bottom drawer.”
“Locked.”
“Yes.”
He handed key.
“Why?”
“Because I want no books you cannot open.”
Her eyes filled again.
“Reid.”
“No hidden accounts.”
“No hidden debts.”
“No hidden promises.”
He smiled.
“Marriage according to bookkeeper.”
Lena laughed.
“Most romantic thing you’ve ever said.”
“That is depressing.”
She kissed him.
The next spring the boys officially began calling her Ma.
Not all at once.
Eli had accidentally done it for months.
Ben followed.
Jacob.
Peter one day shouted from barn: