Chapter 20: The Question of Cities

Six months in, the question of cities came up the way it always does between people conducting a relationship across an inconvenient geography: gradually, then urgently, then unavoidably. Neither of them brought it up directly at first. They circled it — conversations about work, about projects, about the kind of professional moves that might or might not be tied to location. Jess noticed that Danny had mentioned a consultancy contact in Chicago twice in three weeks. Danny noticed that Jess had applied for a project in Boston without mentioning it until it was already in progress. They finally had the actual conversation on a Sunday in Chicago, at her kitchen table, over the remains of a lunch that had been very good and was now cold. 'I think one of us needs to move,' Jess said. 'Yes,' Danny said. 'And I think it should be you.' He looked surprised. 'I thought you'd want to be the one to—' 'I'm better established in Chicago. My work is more location-dependent than yours.' She met his eyes. 'But also I've been the one managing the distance, which has been fine, but I think the fair version is that the next step is yours to make.' She paused. 'That's me trusting you. For the record.' Danny was quiet for a moment. 'I've been in contact with a firm in Chicago for three months,' he said. 'The consultancy contact. I didn't want to say anything until I was sure it was real.' 'And is it?' 'They want to meet next Tuesday.' He looked at her. 'I've been researching neighborhoods. The one three miles from your apartment has a coffee shop that has good pie.' Jess stared at him. 'You've been researching neighborhoods.' 'I've been thorough,' he said. 'You know how I am.' She thought about apple pie in Nebraska and mountain views in Colorado and a playlist recreated from memory. 'Yes,' she said. 'I do.' She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers — the mirror of the mountain diner, the echo of the gesture that had started all of this. 'Tell me about the neighborhood,' she said.