She breaks eye contact and fidgets on the bench beside me, lost in her own threadbare thoughts. She’s a crumpled thing, the only sign of hope for her the glossy piece of paper she grips between her fingers. I might not have given her the warmest welcome, but I’m starting to realize that she did the best thing by coming to me, by confiding in me. There are still so many ways I can help. But the first thing I need to do is take all the truth she’s handed me and hold it up hard to the light.

RUTH

When I came to Moses River six weeks ago, I hoped Alex and Ib would be able to find our way back to each other as sisters, and despite Alex’s rules, we seem to be making a start. Since the doctor’s visit, Alex has warmed up to me, leaving me notes before she tiptoes out in the morning, no doubt headed for the bakery, where Sully waits. Sometimes she meets him for breakfast, sometimes lunch. But she always meets him. I don’t say anything to Chase. I need Alex on my good side. Every day she suggests activities I could do, mostly things to get me out of the house, but at least she’s communicating. And thankfully she hasn’t brought up going back to the doctor’s. I think she disliked being there as much as I did.

She leaves me money sometimes on the counter, with a list of items she wants me to buy for the baby. Onesies, little booties, diapers. I buy what she tells me and pile it into a heap in the corner of the living room. The baby will sleep out here at first, but I don’t know what will happen next. Will she ask me to leave and fend for myself? So far she hasn’t. She seems to be coming around to the idea of keeping me close.

There’s a precarious trust growing between all three of us. I don’t think Alex said anything to Chase about my brushes with the law. He hasn’t mentioned it. And he has started to relax around me and doesn’t ask so many questions. Each day, I wander into town, only to reconvene with Chase on the couch in the afternoons to watch some manner of competitive cool-person sport. He provides the play-by-play while I sit there, rubbing my growing belly and pretending to pay attention. His presence is becoming comfortable. On the days that Chase is off making billboards or at a meeting at the resort, I mostly stay busy by making healthy food for myself, and I play classical music loud while I cook. Chase says it’s been proven to make babies smarter.