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"Emma, where are you?" He’s not quite frantic, but not callasses?"

"Yes And I’m in the café--where you, by the way, are not"

Oh "Uot on the subway because it’s a little chilly out… and noe’re in Brooklyn"

"Brooklyn?" he yells, his voice piercing, and Grahalance at e space

"We’re at his sister’s loft," I s coffee"

He tries for a ht is at noon--"

"I know, Dad"

"But…" he sighs, and I i his hand over his face in that way he does when he’s frustrated We’ve grown closer over the past sixparent years ago and he knows it "When will you be back?"

"When do you want to leave for the airport?" I hedge

"Nine-thirty?"

Last night and lastmore than to hear Graham tell me he wanted oodbye in less than two hours, the whole thing feels hopelessly muddled and complicated

"Emma?"

"Yeah, Dad, sorry I’ll be back in tihtens with the realization that it could be ain

"Is everything okay?"

"Main "We’ll talk later, sweetheart I can tell you can’t talk now"

"Thanks, Dad I’ll be back soon"

Cassie is a cellist with the New York Symphony, on a short leave of absence at the moment to be a full-time mother "I couldn’t letfront," she s as Graham makes faces at the baby, whose na to a barstool, she ranite-slabbed counter while I exas, prints andwith two bicycles An upright bass and a cello flank the undivided s and floor-to-ceiling shelves house tons of books and photos The loft is casual and cozy

My stepmother, Chloe, would hate this place I love it

"What brings you to New York, Es

"I’e"

Her eyes flick across the roo to New York in the fall?" I nod and her smile widens "I’m sure my brother is happy about that"

I wonder what, exactly, Grahah I’d posed this question aloud, she leans onto her elbows and lowers her voice "He likes you a lot, you know" My face warms, but she doesn’t seem to notice "I wouldn’t butt in, but he’s too da, this whole thing will be one big missed opportunity"

I clear s this …" I say, and she slaps a hand on the counter

"Well thank God It’s about tiht behind me He takes a seat on the stool next to hty stare "If anted you to be part of this conversation, we’d have been talking louder"