Chapter 2

A few days later, Ethan was on the phone again, his voice tight with that familiar blend of anxiety and self-importance he reserved for Olivia-centric problems.

"Maya, you are not going to believe this. Olivia, she, uh, she kind of bounced a check. For that charity auction thing, you know, the one for the rare orchids? She bid on that ridiculous crystal sculpture, and well, James is being a jerk about her allowance again."

Maya was sketching on a digital tablet, a new high-end model she' d ordered with her final Agency allowance.

"How much was it?" she asked, her voice even.

"Five thousand. Can you believe it? It's just, she's so embarrassed, and if it gets out..."

"So, she needs five thousand," Maya stated, not asked.

"Yeah, I was thinking, you know that vacation fund we had? For that trip to Italy? We haven't really talked about it lately, and..."

"Use it," Maya said. She added a new layer to her design, a complex, flowing abstract.

Ethan sounded surprised. "Really? You're okay with that? I mean, it was your idea, Italy."

"It's fine, Ethan. If she needs more, just take it."

He was quiet for a moment. "Wow, Maya. Thanks. You're being really... cool about this."

Cool. That was one word for it.

She remembered the nights she' d stayed up, fueled by coffee and desperation, finishing rush design jobs to make rent after Ethan had "loaned" their savings to Olivia for some perceived emergency.

The bootcamps. He' d wanted to be a software developer, a star at his startup. She' d paid for three different ones. He' d dropped out of the first, complained his way through the second, and barely scraped by in the third. His startup salary mostly went to lunches with Olivia or gifts to cheer her up.

Their shared life, she' d funded it. Their shared dreams, she' d been the only one holding onto them.

He came home later, looking relieved. "All sorted. Olivia sends her thanks. She said you're a lifesaver."

"Good," Maya said, not looking up from her tablet.

He hovered. "So, what are you working on?"

"Just some personal projects."

He watched her for a bit, a frown slowly forming. "You've been quiet lately."

"Have I?"

"Yeah. And what's with all the boxes in the spare room? Are you finally cleaning out that closet?"

"Something like that," Maya said.