All the windows of the three-story house were illuminated, standing out against the trees like a beacon. John hung back, staying out of the light. He could hear music from inside, and laughter; the sound of it made him balk. He forced himself to walk the rest of the way to the door, but stopped again when he reached it: Going inside felt like an enormous decision, something that would change everything. Then again, so did walking away.

He raised his hand to ring the bell, then hesitated; before he could decide, the door swung open in front of him. John blinked at the sudden light and found himself face-to-face with Clay Burke, who looked as startled as he was.

“John!” Clay reached out and gripped John with both arms, pulled him in and gave him a hug, then quickly pushed him back to where he started and firmly patted his shoulders. “Right, come in!” Clay stepped back to clear the way, and John followed him in, looking around the room cautiously. The last time he was here, the whole house had been a wreck, strewn with signs of a man falling to pieces. Now, the piles of laundry and evidence files were gone; the couches and the floor were clean, and Clay himself was beaming with a genuine smile. He caught John’s eye, and his grin faded.

“A lot has changed.” He smiled as though reading John’s mind.

“Is Betty—” John broke off too late. He shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No, she’s still gone,” Clay said evenly. “I wish she’d come back; maybe she will someday, but life goes on,” he added with a brief smile. John nodded, uncertain what to say.

“John!” Marla waved from the stairs, and immediately came bounding down with her usual eagerness, wrapping him in a hug before he could so much as say hello. Jessica appeared, coming in from the kitchen.

“Hey, John,” Jessica said more calmly, but with a glowing smile.

“I’m so glad to see you again, it’s been a long time,” Marla said, releasing him at last.

“Yeah,” he said. “Too long.” He tried to think of something else to say, and Marla and Jessica exchanged a glance. Jessica opened her mouth, about to speak, but was interrupted as Carlton ran excitedly down the staircase.

“Carlton!” John called with his first genuine smile of the evening. Carlton raised his hand in an answering wave, and came to join the group.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” John echoed as Carlton tousled John’s hair.

“What, are you my granddad now?” John made a halfhearted effort to straighten his hair while searching the crowd with his eyes.

“I’m surprised you came.” Marla slapped him across the shoulder.

“I mean of course you were going to come!” Carlton corrected. “I just know you’ve been busy! Too many girlfriends, am I right?”