When they picked us up, Ruth told Ellie we just went for a walk. I stayed quiet.

Ellie says, “I know I already said this at dinner, but, guys, please don’t wander so far next time, especially without telling us.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m sorry.”

Ruth doesn’t say anything. Neither Ellie nor Eddie has seen the small bass clef that’s now behind Ruth’s right ear. I saw it at the restaurant when I went with Ruth to the bathroom and she peeled the bandage back a little to check it in the mirror. The skin is red and swollen, but she’s kept the bandage over it and kept her hood up and has so far managed to hide it from them.

We step into the lobby and there’s a gorgeous glass chandelier sparkling above us. Eddie gets our tickets and we go into the auditorium and slide down the row to our seats. I land in the seat on Ruth’s right, her tattoo facing me instead of Ellie and Eddie, and I think she finagled that on purpose.

Then the lights go down, and Ruth leans forward. The seats are soft velvet, and the audience around us hushes.

A blast from a chorus of saxophones shakes us in our seats, and bright white lights flash all around us before sparkling and closing in on the musicians up onstage. The pianist starts a rhythmic trill on the keyboard, following the drums’ pulsing beat.

Neither Ruth nor I know much about this jazz group, but Ellie and Eddie have been excited about them for a long time. My sister’s wide eyes reflect the stage lights, and she’s smiling without thinking much about it. I think something about live music, whatever kind it is, fits inside Ruth’s heart-space the way being behind a camera does for me. She seems open and free the whole show.

At intermission, Ruth turns to Ellie. “How did you find out about these guys? They’re awesome!”

“Right?” Ellie says. “It was so random, actually. I was planning this 1920s-themed event for work and found them on YouTube and got totally obsessed. With New Orleans–style jazz generally and these guys in particular. I mean, the group improv skills … it’s mind-blowing.”

They start chatting about music, how Eddie played the trombone in high school and college. That’s something I didn’t know about him, and I didn’t think Ruth would be that into jazz.