“Valerie’s mom?” I took a guess on the new woman. And how do you feel about that?” I rested my wrists on my knees. It would be time for a painkiller soon. I didn’t want the pain to gang up on me as the medicine wore off.

“No, not Valerie’s mom. She has a husband. Willa is the lady Dad’s been seeing. She’s nice. I don’t love her hair, but she has chickens.” She pulled out her phone and found a chicken that resembled the one the lady had.

“They’re cute. Does she eat them?” I tried to hold a serious face.

Raven stuck out her tongue. “Ew, no. Just the eggs. They all have names and personalities. God, it would be horrible to eat them.”

“That makes sense, small pants.” I looked at her legs.

“I’m getting as tall as you—that’s what Dad said the other day.” She tapped her feet like she could will them to be farther from her hips. “He took me to get dinner, and the other day I got a pedicure with Willa.” She toed off her sneakers and pulled off her socks. She had a little French manicure with hearts painted on them.

“Those are stinkin’ adorable. Do you think I’ll meet Willa while I’m here?” I wondered how they met.

“Yes. She has no children, but her pug dog is like a toddler. He screams all the time and wears clothes and everything.” She nodded at me like her analysis made perfect sense.

“Those dogs look like aliens,” I offered.

“I want ten of them.” She smiled at me and pushed on her nose and made her eyes buggy.

“That sounds reasonable.” I wanted to reach out and grab her hand, but my wrists were starting to hurt. “Let’s go back inside so the mosquitoes don’t carry us away.”

My sister and I relocated to the couch. She sat next to me and we looked at funny videos on the internet. I tried to stay focused on her, but my mind drifted to Austin, and then as if it was a requirement… Endgame. It was messy. What was next? Did he have a family that needed to be notified? Was there to be a funeral?

“You’re not watching.” My sister put her phone back in her lap.

“I’m sorry. I have to take my pain meds and I drift a little.” I stood up and found the tote bag Dad had brought home from the hospital. I carefully read the labels and took two large white pills with a gulp of tap water.

My dad came in the front door and I met them in the living room. It was weird to have a really family-like interaction in our house. I was thrilled for Raven.