Angel Food and Devil Dogs (47 page)

"For the second one," I reached in my pocket and pulled out an envelope. "I got this from Max Bouchet yesterday. It's a bonus for the case. I feel half of it belongs to you. I couldn't have figured it out without you, not to mention your quick thinking with the bronze..." I drew the check out of the envelope and showed it to her. "Read it," I said holding it in the light.

"Maggie!" she exclaimed softly at the amount.

"I propose that we spend this money on converting the northeast corner of the top floor into your own space."

"You mean like an apartment?"

"No!" I snorted, "no way. You still have to sleep with me!... I mean, like an office. Your own office. One that doesn't go down to fifty degrees on the weekends. Any kind of space you want."

"Could I have my own bathroom?"

"Sure," I said smirking. "That's the first thing you thought of?"

"Well, the first thing I thought of was having a hot tub on the deck."

"We can have that too."

"I have money of my own. I don't have to use your money."

"Kathryn, this check is not even my fee. It's like found money. If you want to use some of your own money, you can buy a nice desk or something."

She still held my hand. Finally she said, "So, what's the third proposal?"

"Well... I thought we might want to find out if we can really manage being in close quarters for an extended period, so I'm proposing we go away to someplace warm together for a few weeks."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Farrel and Jessie's Florida beach house. It's nice there. They won't be using it. We could stay as long as we want..."

She seemed amenable but she hadn't really said yes, which was making me nervous.

I added, "We don't have to fly. It's not really a bad drive. We can take the van. We could walk on the beach, and relax, and make love, and plan your office, talk, read books, eat fresh shrimp at ocean-side cafes, and... um..."

She was just looking at me, not moving or saying anything. Finally I said, "I'll give you a massage every day?"

She broke into laughter.

"OK?" I asked.

Kathryn looked into my eyes and recited:

"Her breast is fit for pearls,

But I was not a "Diver" --

Her brow is fit for thrones

But I have not a crest.

Her heart is fit for home --

I -- a Sparrow -- build there

Sweet of twigs and twine

My perennial nest."