Terms of Engagement

Leona's reply came twenty minutes later.

The tree has committed to spring. There are small green things appearing that were not there last week.

Then: How many more days.

Lenora looked at the message.

Typed: I don't know exactly. Not long.

A pause.

Then Leona: That's not an answer.

I know, Lenora typed back. It's what I have.

The response took longer this time — long enough that Lenora had returne