Page 39 of The New Place

“Where am I going this summer?” Ned asks.

Abbot touches his arm. “Switzerland?”

“Am I?” Ned asks.

Abbot frowns. “Aren’t you?”

“We could do the summer into the fall,” Cheryl says, rubbing Dan’s arm.

“And be back for playoffs?” Dan asks.

“If that’s the trade for Switzerland and Italy, then yes,” Cheryl says.

“But the kangaroos. I wanna box.” Dan puts his fists up.

“Baxter and I are happy to miss this one, if there will be kangaroo boxing,” Ned says.

“But you’d come too,” Abbot says quickly. “This summer to Switzerland, surely?” Hadn’t Ned said he would? He and Peggy both. That’s what they’d talked about, when Ned had said he couldn’t visit over the holidays.

“A summer in Europe,” Cheryl says. “I can’t wait.”

“A practice retirement.” Dan lightly bumps his fists against Peggy’s. He taps Ned’s arm too in a series of gentle punches. “But if you’re moving, Ned, that’s something to know.”

“Moving?” Ned asks. “I’m not moving.”

“If Henry’s coming down to Newbury,” Dan says.

“Instead of Newbury, there are other opportunities I’d much rather⁠—”

“Abbot’s moving. I’m not moving,” Ned says.

Dan gives him another light punch on the arm. “Yeah, you two are moving in together.”

Ned wheels around. “We’re what?”

“Where are we moving?” Peggy asks.

“Woah, woah,” Ned says. “Nobody is moving.”

“Henry just said he’s moving down here,” Dan says. And has apparently assumed that means Ned is going to be living with him.

Abbot looks at Ned, gauging his reaction. They could find a spot together, one that they’ll move into so very soon. Only months away, if not weeks, and Abbot pushes aside the picture of working in the same building as Ned for this brighter, better one of them living together too. A home, for the two of them. Three, when Peggy’s there. Four, with Baxter. No more unlocking his door to the cold, dim rooms in Portland, but Ned’s shoes on the floor, his coats on the hooks, the couch warm from Baxter sneaking up there.

“But I’m not moving,” Ned says, puncturing the image Abbot’s formed. “Abbot can move. I’m not going anywhere.”

He could, though. They could both move. “Ned—” Abbot starts.

“You aren’t?” Dan drops his fists.

“Not that I know of,” Ned says.

“Oh.” Dan looks between him and Abbot. “Oooohh. To be discussed. Got it. Sorry. Foot, mouth.”

Yes, Abbot and Ned can talk about it when they have time to themselves, rather than here in the crowded kitchen. Let Ned catch up to the idea, and Abbot too, his picture of the summer and fall reorienting again and again.

Growing better each time, too.

“Maybe not in front of Peggy.” Ned gives his dad a look, and he’s not freaking out like Pat said he would. He’s being careful of Peggy’s expectations, because she’s standing right here, following the conversation like it’s a tennis match, head turning back and forth between them.