Kim shakes her head. “He said he wouldn’t be able to concentrate anyway, so Cal told him to stay home.”

Cal got Josh a job a couple of years ago at the medical research lab he runs downtown. Josh had just left the hospital where he had been working. He’s one of those guys who never seems to stay in one place too long, always looking for something new and different. That’s what Jay said.

“Cal went in?” I ask.

“Laken said he told her work would help him keep his mind off things.”

“What’s Laken doing today?”

“At the spa. She needed to square things away there. She was just driving herself crazy at home anyway. You know how she is.”

I do. Laken needs to be busy all the time. Even when we’ve taken vacations together, she doesn’t know the meaning of “Let’s just chill a while.” Funny, her business is all about relaxation.

“When do you go back to school?”

“Wednesday.” Kim sighs and covers my hand with hers. “Have you heard anything from the police today?”

“No. I guess I should call them.” I almost don’t want to. The cops are just another reminder that Jay is really gone. It’s tempting to pretend, to hide at Corrine’s and make believe that Jay is away at a conference or something. If only. But reality doesn’t work that way. It slaps you square in the face, and you accept it or descend into la-la land.

The doorbell rings, and Kim jumps up. “Elise said she wanted to stop by and see you. I told her you were coming over. You don’t mind, right? She had a gap in her schedule.”

“No.” Fine, I think, as long as she doesn’t try to psychoanalyze me. I can’t take that right now.

Kim scampers down the hall, and I take a deep breath and stand, waiting.

Elise is impeccably dressed, as usual, not a hair out of place, but her eyes are red, and there’s a wad of tissues peeking from her jacket pocket. We hug, and she pats my back before letting me go.

“How are you, sweetheart?” she asks.

I nod and sniff. “Okay.” We sit at the table while Kim goes to the stove. “Tea, Elise?”

“That would be lovely.” She turns to me. “Tell me what you need, Molly. Anything. Scott and I are ready to help.”

“Thanks. Jay thought so much of you.” My voice catches in my throat, and Elise leans over and rubs my shoulder.

She and Kim talk about other things, other than me and Jay, and it’s soothing to listen to their quiet conversation. It almost seems normal. I can zone out, which is about the most pleasant thing I can think of to do right now.

But with Elise here, I inevitably start to think about Jay’s practice, his business. What do I do about that?

“What about his patients?” I ask Elise. It takes her a second to switch gears, from Kim’s spring landscaping project that Scott’s company is going to do, to me and my problems.