“Yes, my sister has two kids, and her husband is a medic in the military reserve and gets called away periodically. He’s serving right now.”

“That’s impressive,” Audrey said.

“Yes, I was the go-to fix-it guy in the family. Then she married Ned, and now I’m just the music guy.” So, he could be self-deprecating.

She followed him into the art deco entranceway of a small apartment building. Jake greeted the doorman and then turned towards a staircase, saying it was just one floor up.Jake let himself in with his key and yelled out, “Reporting for uncle duty!”

The small foyer of his sister’s pre-war apartment was neat but crowded, with a little bench for removing shoes, coats on a hook, bookbags, and a folded-up stroller. He hung his black leather messenger bag and Audrey’s satchel on the one empty hook.

“I’ve brought a friend,” he added.

His sister met them as they entered the living room, her nine-month-old son on her hip. She looked like Jake’s sister. She even had the same dimple in her cheek.

The living room gave off a casual, friendly vibe. A comfortable gray L-shaped couch faced the windows next to a wall of bookcases filled with children’s books, games, and bright bins of toys. A maple dining room table was off to the corner in front of an open kitchen.

“Hi, I’m Audrey,” Audrey said, extending her hand.

“Fiona, so nice to meet you,” his sister said, shaking her hand. “And this is Thomas.”

“Audrey’s my neighbor, so I invited her along when I ran into her,” Jake said. “You’re always saying one-on-one is better than zone defense.”

“I knew my basketball example would hammer home the point. We both played basketball in school,” Fiona said. She explained that it had been a disaster of a morning, and she had planned to have everything ready for Jake to just go, but she didn’t. Despite all that, Audrey was impressed by how together yet casual Fiona seemed.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got this,” Jake said. Audrey nodded.

“Famous last words,” Fiona said.

“Do you want us to help or not?” Jake asked.

“I desperately do. I’m deeply grateful. Really—moving up here was beyond the call of duty. You’re the best brother ever.” Fiona reached up to ruffle his hair.

Jake rolled his eyes at Audrey. “Don’t push it.”

“Do you have a brother?” Fiona asked.

“No, I’m an only child.”

“So, you’re neighbors?” Fiona asked as she walked back to her kitchen and put the bottles of breastmilk for Thomas into a little insulated pack. The kitchen was all white except for sprinkles of color here and there: a yellow pitcher holding wooden spoons, a blue dish towel, a red KitchenAid mixer. She yelled to the back of the house, “Luna, Uncle Jake is here!”

“We met when Jake moved in,” Audrey said.