Asher and Justin both stand in the yard after they have put down their kickstands, listening, and the music becomes louder by their stilling. The music causes Asher to picture the willow trees down by the Cumberland River, back home, the way they looked when the late evening breeze traveled across their leaves, making its way down the course of the river, following the water. Asher knows the melody so well he can almost sing the words, but he still can’t place the song.

“What is that?” Asher whispers.

“Something sad,” Justin says.

They are almost to their own porch before Asher sees Evona sitting on the steps, barefoot, all the windows of their house dark behind her. Shady is lying against her and one of her hands is buried in his fur.

“It’s ‘Blue’ by Joni Mitchell,” she says, and Asher thinks Of course. This had been one of Luke’s favorites.

“She’s crazy over that singer, ain’t she?” Justin says.

“Joni’s songs remind her of somebody.” Evona says this in such a way that Asher knows not to ask for more explanation. Bell is a mystery and a secret. She has respected his privacy and he figures he should do the same for her. These are the only people he has ever known who let him be who he is, no questions asked.

Asher tells Justin to go on and get a shower and he minds without any arguing although he usually hates to be left out of any interaction with Evona. His skin must feel as tight with sand and salt as Asher’s.

Asher sits down on the step beside Evona and gives Shady a good pat on the head.

“You were on the national news tonight,” she says. “Your ex-wife was on. She’s out of her mind with worry.” She takes her hand away from Shady, leaning forward so that he can no longer see her face. “I’d read before that your mother-in-law got hurt in the scuffle but tonight they showed pictures of her face. Tell me you didn’t do that, Asher.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Asher says.

“Oh God—” Evona puts her hands on her face as if this is too much to bear. “One whole side of her face was blue, Asher.”

“She got knocked down when I broke down the door. It was an accident.”

“You didn’t do that to her, intentionally?”

“She forgave me. She knew I didn’t mean to.”

“Asher—” she says, and he can hear in her voice that she is ashamed of him.

“I talked to her,” he says. “I begged her forgiveness.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“The less you all know the better off we all are.” His voice is shaking. Bell has stopped playing the piano and the absence of the music seems a widening thing.

“What else don’t I know?”