" From somewhere in the garden came a burble of childish laughter. He [Ruso] reached forward, put his arms around her [Tilla’s] waist and rested his head against the belly that was not holding his baby, and perhaps never would. “Everyone else,” he said. “Why not us? "

― Ruth Downie , Caveat Emptor (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #4)