He didn’t answer. Eventually he looked up at her and said, “The first time I sneeze that tree is out of here.”

Patty went where she always went to get a tree: a plot of land outside the city, in a town called Vinland. So what if the land belonged to Bryan’s great-uncle Greg, who had inherited it from Bryan’s grandfather? Bryan wouldn’t know, and his uncle Greg certainly wouldn’t find out. He taught economics at the University of Arkansas and came to Kansas only a couple times a year, to visit family and make sure the land was still there. Bryan and Patty had gone there often, to take walks and have picnics and, once a year, to steal a Christmas tree.

“I haven’t been here since last Christmas,” Patty explained to Madeline. “Funny to think how different everything was then.”

They left the car, Patty carrying the gloves and hand saw, Madeline taking the small ax. The plan was to find something of manageable size that could fit in the back of Patty’s 4Runner—a baby tree, sacrificed in its youth. As they walked into the woods, Patty focused on the rumbling in the pit of her gut; she’d gone without her usual breakfast of apple slices and fat-free yogurt. She was going to be extra good, to shed the final ten pounds before the new year. “Tell me something happy,” Patty said. “It’d be nice to hear something happy.” She wanted to ask about Kurt but was afraid of hearing something she wouldn’t like.

“I guess I have happy news,” Madeline said. “I got into med school. In San Diego.”

Patty felt suddenly lightheaded. This she had not expected. “I didn’t know you even applied.”

“I didn’t want to tell anyone, in case I didn’t get in. I’m sorry—it seems silly now.”

“No, it’s not silly.” Patty wanted to cry, but instead she said, “Congratulations. What kind of medicine?”

“It’s a naturopathic medical program, so it’s all about how to help the body naturally heal on its own. There’s an entire course on herbal remedies.”

“It perfect for you. Really.” She did not want to say what she was really thinking: Everyone I like has left me. Everyone is doing well but me. “So where does Kurt play into all of this?”

Madeline stared at the ground as they walked. “I was going to invite him to come with, but I think he’s cheating on me. He won’t admit to it, but I saw some texts from a girl. And there was a hair tie in his car.” She looked up at Patty. “He tried to tell me it was yours, but I know you never wear your hair up. It seems paranoid, I know.”

“It’s not paranoid at all.” Of course Kurt would ruin things with Madeline. Of course he would take away the one person Patty was truly beginning to love.

“You know, you could move to San Diego, too,” Madeline was saying. “There’s no winter there. You could throw your boots away.”