Marcy wanted to say that she was looking forward to seeing what Claudia and the others had done to the place, but in spite of being able to speak more clearly now she still found it hard to summon many words. They seemed stuck somewhere deep inside her, cowering in a closed room along with her emotions, afraid to come out. She didn’t have a complete understanding of anything yet, but she knew that it was as if the essence of her had been burned away in the fire, and there were no allografts or autografts to fix that. Only therapy, and she would continue with that, as promised.

“Almost there,” Claudia said, trying for cheerful, but only managing anxious.

Marcy looked out at the trees, dense hedgerows, and high gates they were passing, the occasional dog walker and jogger, the recycling bins, mailboxes, and house names. She thought of the many times she’d driven up and down this road herself, feeling glad they’d found somewhere in this leafy area not far from town and close to the moor. She’d been certain it was safe, or as safe as anywhere ever was; she’d believed they were going to be happy in their new home.

She tried not to think about the arsonist who’d done this to her, the youth who’d been arrested and was denying the charge of attempted murder. Although no connection had yet been established between him and her son-in-law, she, like Claudia, was certain one existed. However, her counselor was right when he’d told her that it would do no good to dwell on the anger and hatred she felt toward them both. It wouldn’t alter anything, would only slow her recovery and fill her mind with unnecessary negativity.

“From what I hear,” he’d said, “you were Mrs. Joie de Vivre before you came into my life, a loving mother who’d never let anything or anyone get her down, so that’s who we’re calling on now. I know she’s still in there, along with the world’s best nana, so let’s keep working on waking her up.” He laughed delightedly. “That makes me sound like Prince Charming, doesn’t it? Bet you never thought he’d arrive as a gay.”

She would see Angus again, and the rest of the team when she went for her regular check-ups, clinics, and possibly more skin grafts during the coming weeks, months, and even years.

There was no end to this.