"No, it's not silly at all," he answered as he kissed her cheek. "We'll know soon enough." Then he added, "As long as this is let's-be-honest time, I have an apology to make." She turned expectantly. "I should have discussed Jake Weller's suggestion about my running for sheriff before dismissing it. A decision like that should involve you. I was being selfish."
"Do you feel that strongly about not getting back into law enforcement?" she asked.
"To be honest, I didn't even take time to think seriously about it. But if we are to have a larger family, maybe I should consider. We could use the money. I notice the difference in the grocery bill just feeding Martha."
"Wrong reason," she answered. "Money shouldn't govern your decision. But the election isn't until August and that's a long way off."
"Either way," he said, "'So in love, says everyone.'"
She smiled, and repeated the phrase. "'So in love, says everyone.' Would you scratch that on a window pane for me?" she teased.
"Give me your ring."
"No, you'll damage it!"
"It's a diamond. It won't hurt it. At least I think it's a diamond. That's what the guy in the alley said when he sold it to me for ten bucks." She gave his arm a whack but surrendered the ring. He took her hand and led her up the stairs. "It won't hurt to look," he said with a smile as they began to climb to the now-empty upper floors.
"Every time I come up these stairs, I look up to see if a white-dressed figure is standing at the top," he said.
She turned to him. "Remember, Annie is a friendly ghost!" She squeezed his hand playfully.
He started to enter the first room, on the northwest corner, but Cynthia tugged him further down the hall until they reached Edith Shipton's room on the southeast corner. Cynthia had avoided it since the woman's death and now entered, hesitation in her step. She crossed herself and bowed her head.
"Scratch the message in this room," she said. "Perhaps it will expunge the hate and tragedy this room has seen." She moved off to examine the other windows as Dean knelt to do her bidding.
"David!" she exclaimed. "It's here!"
He smiled as he began scratching the message in the tiniest letters he could muster at the very base of the pane-just as he had done on the other window, days earlier, after she'd left her ring on the kitchen counter to wash dishes. Cynthia turned toward him, then realizing what his smile didn't deny. He couldn't keep a secret from this woman he loved.