Dustin was alone in the living room when the buzzer sounded. He glanced at the kitchen clock and saw it was after eight, which meant shivah was officially over. But as he walked over to answer the intercom a calm came over him. He knew who was at the door.

When Kimmie announced herself, Dustin smiled as he pressed the button. He was pleased that she had stayed true to her word about coming to visit at some point during the week. He had only said four words to Kimmie after the funeral, “Thank you for coming.” It was what he said to everyone that day. He had been so drained by the whole ordeal he wasn’t able to say anything more, even to her.

He remembered Kimmie’s purple hair from the funeral, but when he opened the door and she pulled off her hat, she revealed her normal blond color, only her hair was much shorter. He must have been staring, because she immediately announced she had just gotten it dyed that day and then decided on an impromptu new haircut.

“You look like Meg Ryan in my favorite movie of hers,” Dustin said. “She was…”

“America’s sweetheart?” Kimmie said with a smile, not the one she had been practicing in the elevator, but a real one. She was happy to see Dustin and thankful it wasn’t as awkward as she had feared. “I have to admit I don’t know who she is. My mom sent her picture to my hair stylist.”

“You’ve never seen When Harry Met Sally?” Dustin asked. “My mom dragged me and Nicholas once for…” He trailed off, his face crinkled in a mix of surprise and sadness at his casual mention of his brother’s name. It had been the first time since Nicholas died that he had spoken about him and not remembered he was gone. He took a deep breath and continued. “She made us see it with her on Mother’s Day once. Nicholas and I watched it every time it came on TV after that, but we would never admit we liked it, saying we were only watching it out of respect for the woman who raised us.”

“Let’s watch it,” Kimmie jumped in. “I mean, if you’re not busy or anything.”

“When Harry Met Sally?” Dustin asked. “Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“I do, but I’ve finished my homework already,” Kimmie said. “Public school is way easier. My mom’s out with her boyfriend, and Lolly’s home online shopping for Coachella, so she’ll cover for me. But if you don’t want to, we don’t have to.”

“No, let’s do it,” Dustin said. “I’m sure my mom owns it on Apple TV. It’s one of her favorite movies. She’s watched it like a hundred times.”