"I'm not taking New Haven," Declan said.
Cormac was quiet long enough for Declan to hear a television muted in the background. "Because of Rhea."
"Because of us. Because using your hip as my alibi was cowardice with paperwork. Because I want the visible room, yes, and I also want to come home to the woman who yanks me out of puddles. Those wants have to negotiate in daylight."
"Brenna will be loud."
"Brenna already called Rhea and admitted possible. Loud can learn."
Cormac's breath caught, then steadied. "Then come Sunday. Bring pie. Your mother always said pie made hard news edible."
After Declan hung up, Rhea sat down across from him. "You didn't ask me if that was allowed."
"I asked myself if it was honest. Then I acted before fear could redraft me."
"I'm still signing the grant," she said.
"I know."
"You're allowed to be angry that my yes closes some of your doors."
"I am angry," Declan said. "I'm also relieved. Those can share a body."
Rhea opened her laptop. The acceptance portal waited. She typed her name. She paused over the final submit. "If I do this, I need you not to punish the trees for being the reason you stayed."
"I won't punish the trees."
"You might, on bad Tuesdays."
"Then call me on it. Out loud. At Finch's, if you have to."
She submitted. The screen thanked her with bureaucratic joy. For a moment neither of them breathed. Then Rhea covered her face with both hands and laughed into her palms, the sound breaking into something wetter. Declan came around the table and held her, not as a man who had solved anything, but as a man who had chosen the room where solving would have to happen slowly.
Friday afternoon Nadine hugged Rhea in the office doorway with uncharacteristic public feeling. The mayor's quote went out. Local radio mentioned "a ribbon of green through Waterbury." Declan's supervisor in facilities took the New Haven decline with a frown that softened into respect. Jorge brought Declan a mediocre celebratory cookie and said, "You're either wise or insane. Possibly both. Welcome back to leaky joints forever."
Brenna called Declan at dusk. "Dad told me. I'm disappointed and I'm trying not to be a person who makes disappointment a religion. Warwick is ready when the duplex sells. I can take more of the appointments. You take Sunday dinners and the gutters until closing."