“I’m working with materials I’ve never touched before. Stuff that’s stretchy and shimmery. And military. I’m not sure why so many visions of the future are of a military state, but that’s what they want in Gurnee. Uniforms with severe hats. When you come to the park you are subject to rules of the planet’s government. You eat food that comes in cubes and squares. I think it’s, like, brownies. Potato nuggets, parallelogram hot dogs. I don’t know. You drink through a long thin tube leading to a softpack in a shoulder bag. There are space rides, but they’re just part of the total immersion thing. Who do you think will come to this place?”

“Me!” Joe says, then laughs at himself.

All around, it’s a really fun outing. But for all Maureen’s efforts, Neale dismisses her out of hand. What she says when Cate calls her the next day is, “Joe loves her. I think they’re getting married.”

“Tell me—”

“She’s fine.”

“What do you mean, fine?”

“I guess I mean fine for someone. But probably not for you. Down the line you’re going to want more from her but there’s only going to be what she’s already shown you. She’s sunny and buoyant—”

“Oh, please.”

“Lively, quite a bit of fun—”

“Stop.”

“Okay. Also totally apolitical. Knows almost nothing about the hideous world we’re living in. It’s something unpleasant. So let’s keep it at arm’s length. Am I right?”

“This is about her and her sister, isn’t it?”

“It’s way not about her and her sister.”