Claire still wanted to know about where Sydney had been and what she’d done while she was away. Sydney knew she should tell her now, especially since sometimes even Claire would smell cologne in the house and wonder aloud where it had come from. But the cologne made Sydney realize what kind of danger she’d put her sister in by coming here, and she was doubly ashamed to admit her mistakes. Claire was doing so much for her.

When Sydney walked outside, the scent of cologne faded in the garden, pummeled by the fragrance of apples and sage and earth. Sydney sat with Bay under the tree and they talked about her day and about the Fourth of July celebration and about how one day they were going to walk over to the elementary school so Bay could see where it was. Ever since Claire had said it was okay for Bay to go into the garden, Bay spent several hours every day lying on the grass by the apple tree. When Sydney asked her why, she said she was just trying to figure something out. Sydney didn’t press, and so much had happened that it was natural that Bay needed time to figure it out.

After talking to Bay, Sydney walked over to Tyler’s. She found him in his backyard, bringing a lawn mower out of his small shed.

“I don’t know, Tyler, are you emotionally ready for all that cut grass again?” she called to him.

He turned and laughed. “If I don’t cut it soon, small neighborhood dogs are going to get lost in it. Even now, when Mrs. Kranowski can’t find Edward, she comes over and beats the grass with a stick, looking for him.”

“I come bearing a gift from Claire.” She held up the wine bottle.

Tyler hesitated, as if silently squelching the first thing he wanted to say. “You know, I’m having no luck figuring out your sister. She gives me gifts when she clearly doesn’t like me. Is this a Southern thing?”

“Oh, she likes you. That’s why she’s giving you this stuff. Do you mind if I have some of this? I’m a little shaky right now.”

“Sure, come on.” They walked into his kitchen through the back, and Tyler took two wineglasses out of his cabinet.

As soon as he poured her a glass, she took a long drink of it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“My mind went somewhere it shouldn’t have a while back. It still spooks me.”

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“No.”

He nodded. “Okay. So, what is this?” Tyler poured himself a glass and lifted it to his nose.

“Rose geranium wine. It’s supposed to bring back good memories.”

He lifted his glass to her. “Here’s to good memories.”

Before he could drink it, Sydney blurted out, “She’s hoping this will make you remember someone else and forget her. Like the casserole with the snapdragon oil and the tarts with the bachelor’s buttons.”

He lowered his glass. “I don’t understand.”