“Fontaine,” she said, glancing at him briefly before looking back at the stove. “Ah. Your mother was Beatrice.”
“You knew my mother?” he asked, sounding shocked.
“We went to school together. I was sorry to hear of her passing.”
He shrugged awkwardly. “It was a long time ago.”
“Still. She was a smart woman. Very kind. We weren’t as close as I would have liked to have been. Different paths.”
“Yeah,” he said hoarsely.
“Do you have a pack?” she asked.
I heard the weight of her words, even if he didn’t.
Robbie shrugged again. “Sometimes? Nothing permanent. Given my job, I tend to float around a lot. Any bonds I form are usually temporary.”
“Temporary? That can’t feel good.”
“It is what it is, I guess.” He looked uncomfortable. Nervous. I remember feeling that way around her at the beginning.
“But you’re here.”
“Because I was told to be.” His eyes widened. His next words were hasty. Rushed. “Not that I wouldn’t want to be here or anything.”
“Of course,” she said smoothly. “Someone has to report back to Michelle over our every move.”
He blushed furiously. “Not every move.”
“Oh?”
“I haven’t told her about. You know.”
“About?”
“How… you’re back.”
“Why?”
He looked at me for some reason instead of answering her right away, eyes darting over my face. Elizabeth caught it and chuckled quietly.
“It just didn’t seem right,” he finally said, looking back at her.
“Interesting,” she said. “Be a dear and get the vinegar from the pantry?”
I watched as he was invited into her space. He seemed just as surprised as I was. But he moved quickly and without hesitation.
“He fits,” she said as I arched an eyebrow at her.
“Does he?”
“You don’t feel it?”
“I don’t know.” Because I didn’t know what I felt anymore.
“What an odd creature you are, Ox,” she said. “I’ve always thought so. It’s such a wonderful thing.”
I looked away.