Page 42 of The Reunion

DUKE

(beat)

I thought you were flying back to New York.

HONOR

I couldn’t do it -- not after last night.

DUKE

But your assignment on the Adriatic…?

HONOR

Croatia can wait.

DUKE

So can I.

HONOR

You’ve been waiting for me for too long already. One summer in New York was never supposed to turn into this many years.

DUKE

Do you want to come in?

Duke steps back from the open door; Honor follows him inside. She pauses to take in a display on the wall -- an old typesetter’s drawer full of seashells -- and beside it, a vintage map of the California coast. On a nearby bookshelf is the first EmmyDuke won, for one of his marine documentaries.

Duke wraps his arms around her from behind and slowly pulls her into a bear hug. She fits perfectly with him and tips her head back to rest it against his chest.

HONOR

I should have been with you when you collected these shells. You picked them all up while filming?

Duke points to a calico scallop.

DUKE

Found that one the day I saw a pod of dolphins up near Monterey. And that one, there, was when I filmed the harbor seals up in Half Moon Bay.

Honor sighs, still resting against him.

HONOR

I think I’m going to quit my job.

DUKE

You love it, though, don’t you?

Honor’s still looking at his seashell collection. Duke can’t catch her eye.

HONOR

I do.

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