I love this setting, Mystery Author! This little glimpse into life at Casa WildTurkey is perfect -- I can just imagine how crowded it feels when both Flo and Deniz are buzzing about! And it makes me want to put a "do not disturb" sign on the door so Roman can get a bit of rest, because yes, dealing with Claudia & Katja & Isabelle all day... I would kill, yes I would!

And the tension, oh, the tension! The elaborate details of putting the groceries away would normally be too much, but here the tediousness works to build up this heat between them. Flo's interruption just makes it worse, I want to yell "ARRRRGH" at him for his soapily-well-timed entrance.

And this line: “I forgot something at the store,” Deniz lies, so smoothly and easily Roman could almost believe him. But he knows Deniz, and he knows lies. OUCH! (And I love it!!)

But not as much as I love the observation that their not talking about this whole thing leaves it slumbering, smouldering, just like Roman's feelings for Marc had lay dormant for so many years, just waiting to be stoked to life. And this painful night of silence and separation is the perfect way to show how these sleeping thoughts are awakening, ready to be all issue-y and awesome, oh yes!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how Hofest is giving us so many different resolutions of the affair, and this is such a lovely one, with Marc saying goodbye, so permanently. It makes me feel satisfied for him as well, glad that he will be able to go about his life now without that continual wondering. And that Deniz gets that here, it's perfect!