“Maybe things aren’t so good with Janet right now,” I went on. “And people are people.”

She sat on the foot of my bed, and it was clear she intended to hold me to this conversation.

“Meaning?” she asked.

“Just that. I wasn’t born in a cave. Teun’s gender makes no difference to me. I do not know a thing about her proclivities. But if you are attracted to each other? Why wouldn’t anyone be attracted to either of you? Both of you are striking and compelling and brilliant and heroic. I’m just reminding you that she’s your supervisor, Lucy.”

My blood pounded as my voice got more intense.

“And then what?” I asked. “Will you move from one federal agency to another until you’ve screwed yourself out of a career? That’s my point, like it or not. And that’s the last I will ever bring it up.”

My niece just stared at me as her eyes filled again. She did not wipe them this time, and tears rolled down her face and splashed the shirt Teun McGovern had given to her.

“I’m sorry, Lucy,” I gently said. “I know your life isn’t easy.”

We were silent as she looked away and wept. She took a deep, long breath that trembled in her chest.

“Have you ever loved a woman?” she asked me.

“I love you.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Not in love with one,” I said. “Not to my knowledge.”

“That’s rather evasive.”

“I didn’t mean it to be.”

“Could you?”

“Could I what?”

“Love a woman,” she persisted.

“I don’t know. I’m beginning to think I don’t know anything.” I was as honest as I knew how to be. “Probably that part of my brain is shut.”

“It has nothing to do with your brain.”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

“I’ve slept with two men,” she said. “So I know the difference, for your information.”

“Lucy, you don’t need to plead your case to me.”

“My personal life should not be a case.”

“But it’s about to become one,” I went back to that subject. “What do you think will be Carrie’s next move?”

Lucy opened another beer and glanced to see that I still had plenty.

“Send letters to the media?” I speculated for her. “Lie under oath? Take the stand and go into gory detail about everything the two of you ever said and did and dreamed?”

“How the hell can I know?” Lucy retorted. “She’s had five years to do nothing but think and scheme while the rest of us have been rather busy.”

“What else might she know that could come out?” I had to ask.

Lucy got up and began to pace.