“Let me come,” Rainer said. I was sure she’d say no. He was newer than I was.

“It will be smaller than the last one,” she said. She smiled and touched his ear. “We’ll ask Dice.” They saw me staring and turned away.

Bay was due back soon. I had hoped that by now—a year in—I’d be trusted with showing a newcomer around, but I knew that after the rebirth I had to start from zero again. This time, Osha was in charge. She had a broad, ruddy Scandinavian face, flyaway hair, and energy for even the most onerous tasks. She was like Sara, invulnerable.

Bay’s car returned in late morning. I was on the porch, fixing a hole in the knee of my canvas pants, sewing with the same viney thread that Sara and I had used to string up the beans a month ago. Osha rushed out to greet the newcomer. I heard her say, “Right on time.” I kept my eyes on my sewing at first, because I wanted to seem busy.

“Here’s Harmony,” Osha said, “my wonderful sister.”

When I looked up, my stomach dropped. It was Isaac, my ex-boyfriend. Isaac, with his hammerhead eyes. I could scarcely believe it until I saw the claw tattoo on his temple.

Lindsay, I thought. Lindsay told. Then: He’s come to take me away. I wondered if he’d spoken with my mother—if she’d be coming too. I wondered what he’d do if I refused. If he’d try to get the police involved, calling it a kidnapping. Or if he’d try to number us—report us, get us for tax evasion, destroy the whole community. If investigators came they might look for Pear and link her death to me. I was a terrible liar—if they put me under oath, I did not know what I would say.

“Nice to meet you,” he said. What a good idea—we’d pretend we were strangers. He stuck out his hand, and I grasped it. I knew he was feeling my calluses as I felt his silky cold palm.

I said, “Welcome.” I avoided looking at his face. I looked down at his Velcro-closure tennis shoes. I looked up as Bay unfolded himself from the car and walked toward us. Bay was so rough looking, I’d forgotten; his skin was dented like a rained-on pond. I waved. He did not wave back. I could not look at Isaac.

“Nice to have you back, Bay!” I said. He raised his eyebrows and I felt silly. “Well, Osha,” Bay said, ignoring me, “why don’t you give our guest a tour?”

“I’ll come along,” I said.

“You’ll stay here with your sewing,” Osha said. I still could not look at Isaac. “You can show him the barn later, how about that?”