The water stopped. Abby stood in the middle of the bathroom, drenched. “Kate, I’m so sorry. I’ve never wasted so much water. How can I ever—”

Kate reached for a bath towel and handed it to her. “Abby, it’s okay. There’s plenty of water.”

“There is?”

She smiled. “Yes. All you want.” She looked Abby up and down and put her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Well, I think we’d better put you in a different dress.”

Abby smiled back, tugging at her soaked clothing. “You don’t think this’ll do tonight?”

Kate laughed and shook her head. “I’ll get you one of mine. It’ll be a little short, but it will fit. Tomorrow I’ll take you shopping for some new clothes.”

“But I don’t have any money.”

“That’s okay. My treat.”

Abby changed, and they sat at the dinner table. They chatted about clothes and food and Kate’s home décor, which intrigued Abby. Kate didn’t want to ignore the trauma Abby had just been through, but she thought some conversation on other topics might be a nice distraction. When they adjourned to the living room after dinner, Kate thought the time was right to inquire about Abby personally. “How are you doing? Emotionally, I mean. Coming from the jungle, you’re probably going a bit stir-crazy.”

Abby paused a moment before she answered. “I’m better. But…I don’t see how you can stand being inside all the time. It’s so…lifeless. Just the opposite of the jungle—the sounds, the smells, the wildness, the sense of life that it brings. I miss that.”

Kate couldn’t help feeling a bit envious of this woman who had lived an extreme version of what Kate had come to Papua New Guinea to experience. True, Abby’s life had a strong religious component that Kate couldn’t relate to. But neither was she offended by it. She had come here expecting to encounter people of all different beliefs. Meeting an American living with the Inisi is what surprised and intrigued her.

“What else do you miss?” she asked.

“My village. They’re my family. And my daughter.” Abby swallowed hard. “I miss Miraba terribly.” Her eyes teared up when she spoke her name.

Kate gave her a moment to compose herself. “Miraba…was she your natural child?” The girl had looked too dark skinned for that, but she didn’t want to presume.

“Oh no. I adopted her when she was just three.”

“What happened to her parents?”

“Malaria. Miraba’s grandmother died too.”

“So the village was okay with your taking her in?” Kate hoped her curiosity wouldn’t upset Abby further.

“They were thrilled that they didn’t have another mouth to feed. The village always lived on the edge of hunger.”

“So you raised her alone? Without a male partner?”

“A husband?” Abby smiled. “No, no husband.”