“Miss Dee, do you know where you are?”

She straightened. Ben was taking off his jacket. He hung it over her shoulders. “Lord, no. Oh, no, I don’t know where I am. How did you find me?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ben said, arm across her shoulders. “We’ll get you home. Just get in my car right here.”

“You’ve got a car?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, I used to have one. Can’t drive it no more. I’m so old. Is this it?”

“Yes, yes it is. Just sit right down in there.” Ronny had opened the door. They were only a hundred yards or so from the house, but she was unsteady, barely moving, and so they put her in the backseat and drove her to the front door. Ronny sat beside her.

“Whose coat is this?”

“It’s mine,” said Ben. “Are you getting warm?”

“I think I am. Did you put it on me?”

“I did.”

She patted Ronny’s arm. “I’m glad you brought him back. I always liked him.”

Ronny laughed, Ben laughed, they got out of the car. Nothing to do about the fact that she was barefoot. Ben nearly picked her up but decided it was better to let her walk. Her bones so fragile and thin. “This is my house, dear lord, now why did I ever come outside? It’s too cold out here. I must have lost my shoes.”

“I think they’re in the house, Miss Dee.”

“Is that Ronny? You’re a little bit of a know-it-all, aren’t you? Well, those shoes better be inside, young man, that’s all I have to say.” She marched to the house with a purpose. Now that she knew where she was, she had a firm step. “Lord, my feet are near about frozen.”

Inside, Ronny found a pan and filled it with hot water. Ben took her into her bedroom, where she sat in a chair while he wrapped a blanket around her. She fumbled for her glasses and found them on the table beside her. Eyes so large now, through the lenses. A diminutive owl perched on the edge of her seat. Ronny put the pan of water on the floor and helped her feet into it. “What’s this?” she asked, drawing back.

“Just hot water, Miss Dee. To warm up your feet.”

“Oh, yes, that’s a good idea, I believe.” She shivered, lifting her feet into the water. “Now, you know you should never have took me outside in the first place, don’t you?”

They looked at each other. After a moment Ben said, “It was a bad idea. We’re so sorry.”

“I forgive you. But I sure want to warm up. It must be January out there. Is it?”

“No, ma’am. It’s November.”

“Well. That’s just as bad.” She adjusted the glasses, stared down at her feet. There was a brooch on the carpet near her. She pointed, finger twined with blue veins. “There it is. I knew I would find it.”

Ronny lifted it off the carpet, oval, lacquered, painted with flowers, all faded. He handed it to her. She tried to put it on her nightgown and fumbled, then set it on the table. “My feet are getting nice and warm. You boys can go on, now.”