I would never want to seem ungrateful or undermine what she's saying- I couldn't be more deeply honored that it's true- but there's an instinctive doubt that being with me could be worth the entire career and life she had ahead of her back home.

Still, she isn't home. She's here, as am I, and if you're going to be trapped somewhere for years, you could have worse luck than to be trapped with someone who actually makes every day a gift.

"I'm so grateful," I murmur, resting my cheek against her hair, watching the places her slender fingers fit along mine, "for the chance to have fallen in love with you, Peggy."