and the kids barrelled in, with Hilda behind them.
“How did it go?” Sylvie asked.
Jess went over to his mother. “You know those feathers owls have around their eyes?” Sylvie nodded.
“They help owls hear,” Jess said.
“How do they do that?” Sylvie asked.
Jess tweaked his own ear. “See this?” he said. “It catches the sounds and sends it inside our ears so we can hear. The owls’ ears are right behind those feathers.”
Taylor came over to me. “Could Jess stay over? It’s not for fun,” she said earnestly. “We need to work.”
“Sorry, T,” I said, “the owls will have to wait. We already have an overnight guest. Eli’s staying here tonight, and he could use a little peace right now.” I put my arm around her shoulder. “It gets pretty noisy around here when you and Jess are working on a project.”
Sylvie smiled. “I don’t mind a little excitement. If it’s all right with you, Joanne, the kids can work at our house tonight.”
Taylor’s eyes were pleading. “Can I?”
“Sure,” I said.
Taylor laid her head against my arm and lowered her voice. “After I go, make sure Eli goes to the studio to see the dragon-boat picture I made for him.”
“He’s right out back,” I said. “Why don’t you take him there now?”
She shook her head. “If I’m there, Eli won’t be able to really look.” She frowned. “Do you know what I mean?”
“Yes,” I said, “I know what you mean, and I think you’re right. I’ll make sure Eli sees the painting.”
After Sylvie left with the children, I fixed myself a gin and tonic and went up to my room to read. There was a new biography of the prime minister. The blurb on the jacket promised a Jungian exploration of the dark corners of his psyche. I had just about decided the PM was that rarest of beings, a man without a Shadow, when Hilda knocked on the door. She was wearing her dazzling poppy-red Chinese robe.
“I’m going to make an early night of it, Joanne,” she said. “It’s been a long day, and Justine’s funeral is at ten.” She leaned against the doorframe as if she were suddenly weary. “The last funeral I attended was for Frank,” she said softly.
“Hilda, would you like me to go with you tomorrow morning?”
“But your Saturday mornings are so busy.”
“There’s nothing that can’t be put off till later except for Taylor’s lesson, and Angus can drive her to that.”
“It would be good not to have to go alone,” she said. “And not just because tomorrow’s service will be painful. Joanne, you were right about the currents a murder sets loose. Sometimes this week, I’ve felt as if I were about to be swept away.”
“Then let me be your anchor,” I said. “You’ve been mine often enough.”
In all the time I’d known her, Hilda had never made a physical display of affection, but she came over, bent down, and kissed the top of my head. “I hope you know how much I cherish your friendship,” she said.
When I went downstairs to say goodnight to the boys, Eli was sitting at the kitchen doing a crossword puzzle. Angus was nowhere in sight.
I touched Eli’s shoulder. “Where’s your goofy friend?” I asked.
Eli gave me a small smile. “He went to Blockbuster to rent a movie.”
“You didn’t want to go with him?”
“No. I thought I’d just stay here.”
I pulled out the chair next to his and sat down. “Feeling a little shaky?”
He gazed at me. His eyes were extraordinary – of a brown so dark they were almost black. “More than a little shaky.”
“Taylor left a gift for you that might help,” I said. “It’s out in her studio.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“A surprise,” I said, “but in my opinion, a terrific one. Why don’t you go out and have a look while I call Mieka and Greg and see if that baby of theirs is any closer to joining the world.”
He started towards the door, then he stopped and turned. “Are you looking forward to being a Kokom?” he said.
“Yes,” I said. “I really am. I like kids. It’ll be fun to have a new one around.”
“I hope everything works out okay,” he said.
“Thanks, Eli, so do I.”
My older daughter answered the phone in a voice that was uncharacteristically gloomy.
“I guess I don’t need to ask you how it’s going,” I said.
“It’s not going at all,” she said. “I followed your advice about the Chinese food, and we’ve already scarfed our way through the whole menu at