to burst out laughing. Shock, wonder, joy. He stammered for a moment, finally finding words. “Jesus. Two! We thought you were dead.”

Two opened her arms, hugging him tight, crying into his shoulder. Rhes lifted her up off the ground for a moment, set her back down, still grinning and looking like he might weep himself. He ran a shaky hand through his hair. Tori was looking around, bewildered. There was a dog barking in the background.

“Wow. I mean... I just... wow. Are you okay, Two?”

“I’ll be better when you invite me in off your freezing-ass doorstep, and let me see Sarah.”

Rhes laughed, moved aside, beckoned with his arm. Two walked into the house, a small but tidy duplex in a Brooklyn brownstone, and looked around. Tori followed.

“Sarah’s upstairs checking on the kid, but she’ll be down in a second. Molly’s fine, before you ask, Two. Well... maybe not fine, but much better. It was a rough couple of weeks. Killed us to put her through it, but I think she’s crossed over to the easier side of it now.”

“Good. Thank you so much, Rhes. I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you guys for this.”

“Two, I... listen, don’t worry about it. Trust me. We love her. She’s the sweetest kid I’ve ever met. I hope you’re not planning on taking her somewhere.”

“Hadn’t thought that far ahead, but assuming she’s happy, and you guys want her here, I can’t think of anywhere else she’d be better off.”

Rhes nodded. “Good. Who’s your friend? She okay with dogs?”

“Her name’s Tori, and I have no idea. Guess we’ll find out. Let him in before he pees on the floor, Rhes.”

Rhes opened the door to the kitchen, and the dog, Jake, came bounding out, barking and wagging his tail. Tori took a nervous step backward, but Two knelt down and cried out the dog’s name, throwing her arms wide. Soon, both girls were laughing and petting Jake, who was enjoying the attention.

“Do you like him, Tori?”

“He’s soft! And... eugh!” Jake licked Tori’s face, and she pulled back, grinning and rubbing her cheek on her sleeve. Two laughed.

“And friendly. And smart, although I guess that seeing-eye dogs sort of have to be.”

“Sure do,” Rhes said. “Hey, Jake. Relax, big guy. They’re not going anywhere.”

He patted the dog, then pointed toward the couch. Jake leapt onto it and lay with his head over the arm, watching them with big, dark eyes.

There were footsteps on the stairs, and Two looked up to see Sarah descending them carefully. “There better not be any boots at the bottom of these, Rhes. If the blind lady trips and falls again, she’s going to break your arms.”

Rhes laughed, looking sheepish. “No, Sarah. They’re in the closet.”

Sarah came to a stop in front of Two. “Damn near killed me last week. Who says love isn’t work?”

Two laughed. “How are you, Sarah?”

“Better for hearing your voice, Two. Do I get a hug, or did Jake wear you out?”

Two embraced Sarah, laughing. They broke apart after a minute, and Two looked around smiling. Rhes spoke up. “You look good, Two. I hope you don’t mind my asking but are you still, uh... you know? Staying clean, and all that?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s done. Been done for a while now.”

“Any cravings?” Sarah asked.

Not for that, Two thought. Out loud she said “Occasionally. Mostly no.”

“Good.”

“Yes.”

There was a pause. Two sat down on the couch, and Tori followed her. Rhes took an armchair. Sarah pulled up the piano bench.

Silence for a moment more, and then Rhes tilted his head to one side, looked at her for a moment, asked “You going to tell us where you’ve been, Two?”

Two sighed. “I don’t know if I can. It’s crazy, Rhes. You’ll think I’m crazy.”

There was another silence, then Rhes shrugged. “Okay. I won’t push. Too happy to see you, anyway. You want anything to drink? Beer? Soda?”

“Fuck, yes. Beer. Whatever you’ve got will be great.”

Rhes stood, moving toward the kitchen. “What about your friend? And Sarah, do you want anything?”

“I’m good, hon, thanks.”

Two turned to Tori. “Do you want something to drink?”

“What’s beer?”

“You wouldn’t like it. It’s a drink that sort of tastes like raw bread dough.”

Tori made a face. “Yuck. Can I have a soda?”

Two laughed. “Sure. Whatever you have, Rhes, long as it’s got sugar in it. She’s not picky.”

Rhes departed. Sarah got up, and stole Rhes’s seat with a sideways grin toward the kitchen. She bit her lower lip for a moment, then spoke. “Two... Tori,