Page 93 of Solanum

I'm sorry.

I know. Thank you for giving a shit.

Always. And you know I have very few shits to give.

LOL I'm aware.

Xo.

My Nora. Everyone kept asking about my Nora. I leaned my head back against the cabinets and moved on to Maggie's text.

Checking in. Big time difference so no idea what time it is there.

Doing okay. Anita is here with us at my place.

Anita? Maggie asked. Why?

Nora and Anita are good friends.

Right. Anita keeps us at arm's length with good reason.

For now. Go enjoy your honeymoon. We're doing okay.

This text probably cost thirty bucks.

Probably accurate.

From there, I ignored any texts about work, and pocketed my phone again. I drew in a few calming breaths while I listened to the unintelligible whispers from the women on my sofa. It soothed me to know that Nora spoke openly to Anita, particularly in front of me. The times that worried me often revolved around when she wasn't talking or asking for things.

I rejoined them by the sofa, leaning over the back of it to gaze down at them. Nora held her arm up and Anita inspected her bracelet after they must've been talking about it.

"Solanum," read Anita. "Like the nightshade class of flowering plants."

"Oh." Nora's eyes widened when Anita exposed the truth for me. "Nightshade?"

"Yes. Solanum is a diverse genus of nightshades. Prettier plants and some things like tomatoes and eggplant. Marita's big into plants… Hung around her enough to pick up a few things." Anita smiled and released Nora's wrist.

"Nightshade." Nora looked up at me, her eyes misting over with tears.

I leaned my chin on my hand and reached down to flick the bracelet. "Are you using it or reminding me?"

"Reminding you." She smiled despite her tears and held her bracelet closer to her chest.

Anita glanced between us, her brow furrowed. "I missed something."

"Sure did." I leaned all the way over her to smooch Nora's cheek. "Right?"

"Yes." Nora's smile made it to her eyes while she gazed up at me. "All this time, it's said nightshade?"

I nodded and brushed my knuckle over the curve of her jaw.

"Sounds like you two have a significant amount of talking to do when I'm not here or no longer conscious, whichever comes first," piped Anita.

We both laughed at her and Nora swatted her hand. "Don't leave yet."

"Couldn't if I tried. You're blocking me in."

"Good." Nora grinned and snuggled closer to her.

---