Coop pantomimed taking a notebook and pen out of his pocket and making a list.

“It’s not like that.” She was laughing.

He faked putting the notebook away. “Okay, no Taran the Great. What about Betty the...? What is she?”

“The Infallible. Never made a mistake in her life, but she’s always wrong.”

As he started the engine, he laughed and it was a nice sound. “Mind if I help you reorganize the files? By the name of the owner, right?” He pulled onto the road.

“We need to establish search bases. Name, dates, types of treatment, even the animal’s name.”

“And color,” he said seriously. “I really want to see the Hattens’ blue cow.”

“I spent half my childhood at the Hattens’ and never saw a blue cow.” She’d meant it as a joke but a vision of her and Jared in a sunlit field came to her.

He glanced at her. “If you start remembering, so will I. Want me to tell you about my wedding? The cake had pink roses on it and there were two little girls carrying baskets of flower petals. And—”

“No!” She put her hands over her ears. “I can’t take it.” She put her hands down and looked at him. “We must do our best to forget the past. Move forward.”

“Does the future include a job for me?”

“Of course. And a town.”

“And a house, I hope. No offense, but that trailer...”

“Hey! Dad and I lived in it for the first three years of my life.”

“That makes sense since it’s the size of a playpen. I can almost touch both walls. If I wore a hat, my head would scrape the ceiling.”

“Why do you think Dad bought the schoolhouse? The rooms are two stories high.”

“I bet it’s nice inside.”

“It is.” They had reached Kelly’s office.

“I’ll unlock it,” he said, and got out.

She stayed in the Jeep and watched him. Maybe Forey was right, she thought. Maybe she was pulling into herself. Since her breakup, it had become just her and her dad. They were too isolated.

Caitlyn had a vision of herself in the future and she was alone. She couldn’t marry, of course, but there were other things she could do. Maybe she’d be like Kelly’s famous sister, Vera. She was on the news often, and was known globally as a major do-gooder. And look at her. She’d never married, never had kids. Caitlyn wondered if Vera had ever been in love.

I’ll ask Dad, she thought. Maybe he’d met Vera Exton. Maybe he knew what she was like and what had led her to a life of helping others.

Dr. Jones had unlocked the door and turned to her.

Maybe I can take him on as a project, she thought. I’ll get him involved in the town. When Kelly returns, everyone will say she should keep him.

The idea that there were other things to do in life made her smile. She got out and went inside.