“Maryann told me. She went to high school with Barbara. Told me about the boy and how he ran out on her and how she made up the whole story about being raped. Said that Tim looks exactly like him.”

Leah put her glass back down on the table, positioning it perfectly inside the circle.

“So what do you think?”

Leah took a breath and then opened her mouth to speak, but Therese never heard what she said because just then the front door opened, and a young man with hair as wild as a lion walked inside.

Sparking was rarely violent, but this time it shook her so hard, the glass she was holding flew out of her hand and crashed down to the floor. The shards twinkled like diamonds. Leah ran into the kitchen to get a dustpan and was soon on her knees, sweeping up the remains.

He stood silently in the hallway.

Smiling.

Therese’s arms tingled as she turned toward Leah, whose head was bowed over the broken pieces. She wanted to move, but she couldn’t, so instead she stared at the back of Leah’s head.

“Here, let me help you.” He dropped the paper bag he was holding and took the dustpan from her hand.

Therese blinked, took in a breath, tipped back her head to scream, but then stopped. The tingling up and down her arms turned into deep, penetrating stabs.

“It’s not a big deal. Just a glass,” Leah said as she turned around.

Therese’s throat felt dry, and she couldn’t speak. She stared into Leah’s eyes and willed her to see.

“Why don’t I get you another glass of water?” She went back into the kitchen, and the disconnection was so abrupt, it caused Therese pain. Leah was gone, and now she was alone with him. She rubbed her arms up and down, trying to make the piercing jabs she was experiencing stop.

“You must be Therese,” he said, without looking up. There was a hint of arrogance in his voice, as if he had just calculated the answer to a difficult math problem. “Leah talks about you.”

The water running in the kitchen made the pipes hum. She felt a faint throb above both ears. She wanted to sit down, to rest, but she refused to take her eyes off him.

“Here.” Leah walked back into the room and handed her the glass. She drank, feeling her throat open and close around the cold water, numbing her insides and making the tingling finally stop.

“Sit,” Leah said, this time pulling her by the sleeve. They sat together on the couch with him in the chair across from them.

“I guess it’s my turn to tell you my news,” Leah said.

Therese picked up her glass, searching for the last few drops.

“I’m Lionel.” He wiped his hand on his shirt before extending it to her.