"You already made it a conspiracy," Nia said.
She stood and walked to the console. She picked up the photograph of the three of them at the pier. In it, Amara was missing a front tooth. Marcus's arm was around Nia's waist. The Pacific behind them was an indifferent blue. She set the frame down carefully.
"I want to see the new house," she said.
Marcus looked up. "Now?"
"Now. Before tomorrow. Before strangers own this floor. Before I sign anything or refuse to sign anything. I want to stand in the place you chose for us without me and decide whether I can forgive the shape of it."
Simone rose. "I can drive. Or you two can take your car and I'll meet you there with the keys."