“Hello, Julia,” Gordon Frimpong says. “I am so glad to see you. It’s been a long time. What a beautiful young woman you’ve become.” He has a deep voice. Tall, a wiry but strong build; she guesses he was a looker when he was younger. He still is, if you’re into older guys. She can see echoes of his face in Ned’s. Stylish glasses. Expensive sweater and slacks. He doesn’t look like he’s exhausted from a flight overseas or jet-lagged. He looks like someone ready to question her.

“Thank you,” she says. “I’m sorry to see you again under these circumstances.”

“It is terrible,” he agrees in his courtly voice. “But how fortunate Ned is to have you as a friend.” He takes the enchiladas dish from Ned, carefully balancing the salad bowl atop it.

“I’m also making you dessert. Cookies. Nothing fancy. They’re still in the oven. My dad will bring them over.”

“Ah. And how is your little adopted brother? Grant, yes, the one from Russia?”

Even when she doesn’t always get along perfectly with Grant, Julia is sensitive to any suggestion that he is somehow not her true brother. “Yes, my brother is well,” she says.

“This is so thoughtful of you all. What do you say, Ned?”

“I was about to thank her, Papa,” Ned says. Ned gives her a quick wink, which his father can’t see. She doesn’t wink back.

“Forgive me, Julia. I’m rather a solitary old lion, and I tend to think of Ned as a small child when he’s nearly a man.” He goes into the kitchen, and Ned rolls his eyes and he and Julia follow.

“I think there are a few less reporters than there were before,” Julia says, thinking that it’s best to find a sliver of something positive right now.

“I’m not really familiar with enchiladas, but this smells delicious.” Gordon places the dish on the granite counter. It’s beyond strange—this isn’t this man’s kitchen, and Danielle is dead and gone. All the food in the refrigerator is stuff she bought and will never eat. The suddenness of her passing hits Julia like a fist.

She takes refuge in talking about the food. “It’s not too many jalapeños. Mom knew you weren’t used to them.”

“How very thoughtful,” Gordon says, and she wants to say, Do you always sound like you talk from a book? But she doesn’t. “It’s so appreciated. I hope I will get the chance to thank your mother for her many kindnesses to my son. And to Danielle.”

“We all loved Danielle,” Julia says. Ned looks as if the very life is draining out of him.

“Yes,” Gordon says. “Well, I have some phone calls to make. There are so many arrangements to handle. Would you like to stay for dinner?”