After Susannah finished washing up for the night, she thought she’d say goodnight to Alessia. But as she passed the living room doors, she spotted Alessia standing in the yard, phone pressed to her ear.

    It wasn’t that Alessia had a fondness for feeding mosquitoes-cell reception inside was terrible, so she had no choice but to step out into the garden. Even then, the call kept freezing and stuttering.

    “You must be exhausted,” came Cole’s gentle voice through the earpiece, easing some of the tension from Alessia’s tired nerves.

    “A little,” Alessia admitted, “It’s different from what I imagined. But everyone here is so weing. I’m staying with a student and her grandmother. She’s such a sweet girl-definitely not the same as looking after boys.”

    Despite her fatigue, Alessia didn’t brush Cole off. She spoke earnestly, sharing her day and what she felt.

    Cole chuckled softly, “Guess York and Ivan would be jealous if they heard that, huh?”

    “I just messaged them. Those two rascals got together again, tried to convince their mom to let them visit. She wasn’t having any of it.”

    “Ivan’s changed a lot-he’s much more outgoing now than when we first met.”

    Cole was hunched over his desk in the only lit office in a sea of darkened windows. With his girlfriend away, sleep was elusive; work was the only distraction he had.

    Not that he’d ever admit that to Alessia.

    “So, has my boyfriend been well-behaved today?” Alessia teased, her voice soft but with a yful lilt. “Don’t tell me you’re still at the office.”

    Though her tone was gentle, it sent a chill down Cole’s spine. He straightened up instinctively.

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    “Couldn’t sleep,” he confessed. “Thought I’d get ahead on some things. I’ll call it a night soon, promise.”

    Alessia let out a sigh. “Even the kids are better behaved than you, Cole.”

    “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, Miss Lessie,” Cole replied, feigning contrition.

    Alessia could only shake her head with a smile, resigned but affectionate. “Lessie, it’s only the first day-how am I supposed to make it?” Cole sounded so intive she could almost see his puppy-dog eyes through the phone.

    Alessia, earbuds in, felt a warm tickle in her ear. She looked down, her expression gentle. “I know. It’s only the first day.”

    “Miss?” Alessia’s words were interrupted by a voice behind her.

    She slipped out one earbud and turned to see Susannah. “What’s up, Susannah? Not sleeping yet?”

    Susannah hefted a stic stool she’d carried over. “Chair.”

    “Thank you.” Alessia ruffled the girl’s hair, but her hand came away damp. “Your hair’s still wet?”

    “Drying?” Susannah looked puzzled, as if she didn’t quite understand.

    But Alessia knew what she meant. She smiled, letting it go. “Alright, goodnight, Susannah.”

    “Goodnight, Miss.” Susannah gave a little wave and disappeared inside.

    Cole’s voice came through again. “That’s the girl you told me about?”

    “Mm-hmm. She just turned nine.”

    They chatted a little longer, but Alessia kept her voice down, worried about disturbing the sleeping grandmother. Eventually, Cole, understanding, gave in and said goodnight, though reluctantly,

    Left alone in her office, Cole gazed at the framed photo of the two of them, sighing for what felt like the hundredth time that evening.

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    12 18

    Alessia sat in the quiet garden, staring at her phone’s darkened screen, then looked up. Overhead, a sky full of stars glimmered-more than she’d ever seen in the city.

    After a while, she picked up the stool and returned inside. A few minutester, she knocked softly on Susannah’s door.

    “Susannah, are you awake?”

    A muffled voice replied, “Yeah.” Susannah opened the door. Her room was dim, lit only by a deskmp.

    “What’s up, Miss?” Susannah stepped aside, inviting Alessia to sit on her bed.

    “Still up reading?”

    Susannah, a little shy, handed over a sheet of paper. “I’m practicing writing your name.”