"That sounds like something approaching a plan," Mo says approvingly.

A thought crosses his mind again, drifting up from other parts of this conversation and from home. It isn't fair for Mo to show the affection he wants to, when he's going to be torn away soon. What he'd done already was pushing the boundaries of fair.

"We should have this conversation again when we get home," he tells Alex, reaching over to cover Alex's hand with his. "When we know we'll both be around for a while."