4:06 PM

Her phone buzzed while she was still talking.

She glanced down.

Dad:

How do I make the words bigger on this phone?

She smiled despite herself.

There were twelve people on the call.

Three countries.

One decision they had been circling for two weeks.

She was the one who had to make it.

She typed while someone else was speaking:

In a meeting. I'll call you tonight.

Sent.

By the time the call ended, it was 4:06.

His reply was waiting.

Okay. No hurry.

She opened the chat.

Tuesday:

Are you free to talk?

Friday:

Call me when you have time.

The week before:

Don't worry. Nothing urgent.

Between them were photographs she had forgotten about.

A new plant on the balcony.

Something he had cooked.

A blurry bird outside the kitchen window.

She couldn't remember whether she had replied to the bird.

Her calendar chimed.

4:10 — Board update

She looked again at his last message.

No hurry.

Then the blue Join button appeared.