“Yeah. Lauren did, too.” Which is probably why she gave him this ridiculous task.

“Hang on, Josh.” He passed the phone to his wife, saying, “Josh wants to see a medium.”

Sumi squealed with joy. “Oh, my darling, this is wonderful! Wonderful! I’m sure Lauren will come through for you, sweetheart, she loved you so! Loves you. You won’t regret this, these people, they’ve been blessed with a gift, it’s amazing, do you watch Long Island Medium? Or Mama Medium? They’re so gifted! I’ve been to a few of these, so I’ll send you a list, okay? Oh, this makes me so happy! So happy, Joshie. It will comfort you. You should take your mother! Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“Oh . . . yeah, no, she’s not . . .”

“She’s not yet!” Sumi cried. “She will be!”

“Maybe we don’t mention this to her,” Josh said. He could already picture her eye roll. He already felt dirty himself.

“I’ll email you the list, okay? Or do you want me to come over?”

“Email is fine.”

“Okay, darling! Bye!”

Two hours later, there was a knock at the door. Josh got up from his computer and opened it to see the Kims and his mother.

“I couldn’t stop her,” Ben murmured as Josh was enveloped in Sumi’s hug. “Sorry.”

His mom came down the hall. “There you are,” she said. “I hear you’re going to try to make contact with the dead.” She raised her eyebrow.

“Mm,” he said. So much for Sumi keeping this a secret.

“You’re too skinny, so we thought we’d cook,” his mom said. “Do you want a glass of water?”

“I’ll take a beer.”

“Oh, you drink now? My only child doesn’t tell me that he’s lifted his self-imposed lifetime ban on alcohol.” She sighed dramatically, opening the fridge, then gave him a smile. Their own language . . . You could call a little more. I care about everything you do. I’m still here for you. He gave a nod. Message received.

Ben sat down next to him, holding his own beer. “Sorry about this,” he said. “I tried to hold them off.”

“No, it’s . . . it’s nice,” Josh said. He could almost hear Lauren’s laughter now. She loved how Steph and the Kims were almost a single unit and descended upon them at will.

He missed that laugh. God, he missed it.

His mother and Mrs. Kim fussed and sautéed, simmered and chatted, slipping Pebbles a treat here and there. No wonder the dog stole food.

But it was comforting, his two moms laughing and talking, Ben asking a few question about Josh’s latest project, taking a look at the plans. Ben had been an engineer himself before he retired, though his work had focused on city water systems. There was life back in the apartment. Fresh air and . . . well, a little happiness.