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"Pretty much," I say as I nab the container back fronant woman and her ice cream

"Okay, we'll try it," he concedes, and I'm relieved that I don't hear any hesitation

It's a gamble whether we can trulyeach other soto consider this is probably the dumbest idea two people could ever co our heads in the sand at this point

And as I lie here eating ice creaave each other, I realize I'm okay with that for now

"Jules told me about your idea," Luc says as he reaches across to take the ice cream and spoon from me

I hesitate before I answer, because this idea of bringing kids and the elderly together is so personal to me that I'around in geriatric care, I'd at least know she'd understand the appeal of it With Luc, I don't know if he'll get it Moreover, I'm afraid he will think it's a bad idea

I've made some stupid decisions in my life, but I've owned them and I've done so with pride Because for every er I've made stupid decisions and made mistakes because I've never had the counsel of anyone I never had parents to depend on, no close friends, and when Hilda died, I didn't have a single person to givethe way I've chosen to look at this as a benefit, because I alone have made myself into the fierce and independent woman I am today And if I choose to think of , it makes me feel less lonely

I s it's funny that we're both lying here with the sheet over our naked bodies Luc's is pooled around his waist, leaving his aot it pulled up overexplored each other's bodies intimately, and yet when the sex ends, we put our arurative armor like the way I am afraid to let anyone in

"Jules?" Luc says softly, and I blink hts

I make a command decision to take a risk and open myself up a little to see what Luc thinks "Sorry, but yeahI knew Jules would have soht based on her experience"

"Jules will give it to you straight," he says softly, his affection for her evident She's not even officially his sister-in-law, but I can tell Luc thinks of her like that already

"And what do you think?" I ask, and then feel like I want to throw up by inviting his opinion Why does his opinion even matter to me? But dammit, it does I hold my breath and shake my head as he offers me the ice cream

Luc pushes the spoon into the top, turns away frohtstand, and then turns back toidea"

"Really?" I ask with a goofy smile on my face

"Absolutely," he says with so et excited fro to e your duties at the museum?"

Ugh The er"

"What?" Luc exclaih

"My promotion was just an interioing to delete inal position when they hire a new director of research and acquisitions So I'ot to ive this idea any attention"

"But wouldn't this idea become your career?"

"Well, I'd make it a nonprofit," I say

"Nonprofits pay their directors and other employees," Luc points out

"Yeah, I know," I say wistfully as aze drops down to my lap "But it's just too iffy I don't think I'd look at doing soot a steady job first to make sure I could pay et it started, and then someone else could run it"

"But if you could run it, you would?" he asks

"Run it or just work for it"

"What's the real deal with you getting zoology and geology degrees? And don't tell me it's because you like rocks and minerals"

I lift my head to look at him His head is tilted at me quizzically

I could play stupid, but I think Luc knows he's got ured out on that front, so I tell hirees and I knewto Stanford or soet their attention, even if it was bad attention, and wellthat totally got a reaction from them"

"Not a good reaction, I'"