Page 40 of The New Place

“Why not?” she asks.

“Because,” Ned says. “Peggy, nothing is happening or changing or anything. Dad, c’mon. She’s six. This isn’t the way this conversation happens, okay?”

“Well, you can’t blame me,” Dan says.

“No?” Ned asks. “Abbot doesn’t even have a job down here, but thanks for jumping so many steps ahead. Peggy, plates, forks, knives, cups, please.”

Peggy just stares up at him, then looks at Abbot. “What about the worms?”

“After we eat,” Ned says.

“Yes, after dinner,” Abbot agrees.

“But—”

“Silverware,” Ned says and when Peggy looks up at Abbot again, he hands her forks to put on the table.

“Sorry,” Dan says into the silence.

“It’s okay,” Ned says.

“Just excited,” Dan says.

“Well, sure, I’d be too if I were seeing kangaroos in Italy,” Ned says easily. “Okay, what else do we need? Seems the avocado is covered. Sour cream? Who wants hot sauce?”

“I want dessert,” Peggy says.

“I know you do.” Ned ushers her toward the table. He catches Abbot’s eye and drops his voice. “You didn’t tell my dad we’re moving in together, did you?”

“No. I just said I was thinking of moving closer.”

“Okay.” Ned glances over his shoulder at Peggy. “Cause that’s—moving is really different than moving in together.”

“Of course,” Abbot says. “We can talk about it.”

Ned nods slowly, his eyes darting back again. “Yeah. I mean, we haven’t even really talked about you moving here to begin with. What that will look like?”

Abbot draws his hand down Ned’s arm, and he can feel tension there. “You said you’re excited about it.”

“No, I am. Yeah. Absolutely. Definitely.”

Ah. Alright, he apparently is panicking. “Is this about what Steve said about Adams?”

“We’re still ignoring that.”

“We’ll figure out what next year will be like,” Abbot says. “If that’s worrying you.”

“I’m not worried,” Ned says quickly.

“I’m not either,” Abbot says. Ned just needs time to adjust. And then they’ll sit down and talk. About Abbot living closer, even about moving in together and how soon that could happen. Everything that’s to come for them.

Abbot smiles as he straightens the forks Peggy’s putting on the table, one stained with a fingerprint from yet another chocolate she’s snuck ahead of dinner.

11

NED

When Abbot tries to get out of bed, Ned wraps him in his arms and holds on tight.