After all, Dr. Bella had become like a mother to both of them.

She walked up the dark path. Okay, maybe not a mother. A quirky, outspoken aunt who spoke wisdom. Reminded Tae a little of the oracle in The Matrix, a movie both she and Zoey were crazy about.

Mostly Zoey, who subscribed to the conspiracy theories that suggested the world was controlled by one dark illuminati. Not Tae, but after the last month, she could admit that maybe Zoey wasn’t as crazy as she sounded.

She stepped up to the door. Please let her not have brought the Russians to Dr. Bella’s doorstep.

Okay, yes, now she sounded crazy.

She knocked.

Waited.

It had rained most of the day, and water dripped from the trees, the air still humid. She wouldn’t be surprised if the sky wept again.

The door opened, light spilled out onto the stoop, and for a moment, time stopped.

Dr. Bella stood in the frame, her dark curly hair up in an orange head wrap, her brown eyes taking in Tae, head to toe, a quick assessment of her health. She wore a green shirt, black pants, and was probably just home from the university, or maybe the hospital. Tae had taken a late flight, but she guessed the hour after eight.

“Taylor, is that you?”

She nodded, offered a smile, but wrapped her arms around herself. She wore a flannel shirt, jeans, and Uggs—an acquisition from Larke’s closet, donated to her by the Kingston family. She’d never been a flannel girl.

Until lately.

“I’m sorry to disturb you so late.”

Dr. Bella had peeked her head out a bit, looked down the street, then practically forced her inside. Closed the door.

Then the woman turned and, just like that, pulled Tae into her arms. “Oh, girl. Girl. Where have you been?” Her voice shook, and Tae, well, she simply held on.

She hadn’t realized . . . hadn’t— Her chest tightened, her eyes filling. “Sorry.”

Dr. Bella pushed her back, held her arms with her strong hands. “We thought you were dead.”

Oh.

Dr. Bella’s mouth tightened, as if she might be trying not to cry. Looked her up and down again. “You look okay.” She took Tae’s face in her hands, examined her eyes. “Tired though.”

“I’m fine.” Now. Probably she shouldn’t mention the events of the past three months.

Dr. Bella dropped her hands, fixing them on her hips instead. “Where have you been? We’ve been out of our minds with worry.”

We? “Is Zoey here?”

An indrawn breath, the dart of her eyes. Then, a quick shake of her head. “No.”

Tae didn’t know why that simple word finally pushed tears out, down her cheeks. “I was hoping—”