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“Ellie probably had her posed for one of those Fancy Shots, like they take at the shopping mall. She always wanted to do that herself.”
    Sage did look sort of glamorous, leaning back like she was waiting for a cab, feet crossed at the ankles, face staring somewhere off in the distance, not a care in the world. Just like her dad. Her red hair and milky skin made her look like a model. Their beautiful girl.
    Mitch handed her a tissue out of the box. “Here you go, didn’t mean for you to cry.”
    She didn’t realize she’d started again. She dabbed her eyes, “Thank you, Mitch. And thank you for the slideshow.” She tapped the screen. “This is my favorite, I think. Would you mind if I had a copy?”
    “I’ll have Becky print you off one.”
    Liberty nodded, noticed he struggled to keep his eyes open. Knowing how rare a circumstance rest was for him these days, she put the laptop back on the stand, pulled the quilt over his body, and left as he started to snore.
     
    * * *
     
    Liberty played chicken with the sunrise, putting off going home as long as she could. Hopefully Nathaniel’s family would be asleep by the time she returned.
    She quietly shut the hatch to the cavern, crept down the corridor, and tiptoed past the darkened guest room. She breathed a little easier seeing their lights out. She wouldn’t have to discuss the proposition anymore. At least until they woke.
    As she entered the bedchamber she pulled the heavy velvet curtain closed behind her. A hand lingered on the fabric. Though she loved the softness against her fingers, she wished for the thousandth time for a real door. A wooden one that opened to a room basking in sunlight. Warm rays coming in through four, five, or ten windows. No shades or curtains would cover those windows. She’d have no reason to hide. And wherever she lived, it wouldn’t have a basement.
    She closed her eyes and played it out inside her head. Her fairytale dream was of life on the upside. To be fully human with a home, and maybe a little dog she could take for walks on bright, summer mornings. She’d wave at her neighbors and then stop at the mailbox to talk to the mail carrier. They’d talk for ages, until, upon realizing how much time had passed, she’d laugh and excuse herself. Lunches for her husband and daughter wouldn’t prepare themselves after all.
    Liberty opened her eyes and let go of the curtain. Were big dreams hereditary?
    Nathaniel rolled to face her. “Hey,” he said, and though the lantern wick was set low, she saw he stifled a yawn.
    “Hey, yourself.” She took off her robe and laid it over the chair near the doorway. He scooted toward the wall and pulled back the quilt so she could climb in.
    She quickly searched his expression for desire, found none, so she relaxed. She felt a little guilty, hoped the relief hadn’t shown in her face.
    Lying on her side to face him, she let him cover her up. She nudged his legs with a foot and he opened them to entwine her colder ones with his.
    The lines around his eyes and on his forehead stayed even after his smile dimmed. He looked rough, way past tired.
    “The air get any clearer after I left?” she asked.
    “Eh. You know how chatty Katie can be.”
    Liberty pressed her lips together, nodded. She didn’t ask for details. Instead, she told him about the slideshow. She spoke of Mitch and how he hadn’t looked good. At all.
    “Katie and Gabe aren’t leaving for a couple more days, but I’ll make a point to stop in tomorrow,” Nathaniel said.
    “Good. We’ll go together.” She pondered a moment, then, “Since Gabriel and Katie made the generous offer on behalf of Cutler, did you happen to mention we’d already made new arrangements?”
    He shrugged slightly. “Not really.”
    She reached out and smoothed the frown lines on his forehead, “Maybe when you see Mitch, you can mention it to him. See if he knows of anything.” Neither she, nor Nathaniel had broached the subject with Mitch yet.