I just played this back. I can hear the whine clearly on the tape. So it’s not just in my head. It’s a real thing. That’s kind of a relief and also at the same time, not at all. I will get to the bottom of this. I think I could have been a good detective, you know, like the ones on the TV because I am very observant and—

The most awful thing just happened.

So, I was just sitting here, clawing at my head and trying to scratch the whine out of my ears, when I heard the repeating click of a key stabbing at the lock. It took several tries before it slid home. Thunk. The locks on the front door opened one by one. Thunk, chunk. Goodness, I thought, he’s really steaming this time.

“Hey, Lauren,” he called. I purred and trotted to him. He stroked my head and tickled my ear. “Sorry, kitten,” he said. “I forgot. Olivia.” Wow, his breath.

I hope you don’t go near any open flames, I told him. I always speak my mind to Ted. Honesty is important, even if he can’t understand a gd word I say.

He weaved in, kissed the Parents where they stared from behind glass and went to sit on the couch. His eyes were half-closed. “She didn’t come,” he said. “I waited for an hour. Everyone looking at me. Just this loser waiting in a bar. In a bar,” he said again as though this were the worst part. “You’re the only one who cares about me.” He swatted my head with a moist palm. “Love you, kitten. You and me against the world. Standing me up. What goddamn kind of move is that?” He sighed. The question seemed to exhaust him. His eyes closed. His hand dropped to his side, palm up and fingers loosely curled as if in entreaty. His breath slowed to a heavy drag, in and out of his lungs. He looks younger when he sleeps.

Behind, in the hall, the front door swayed gently in the evening breeze. He didn’t close it properly.

I leaped down. The cord was thin today, a stylish purple. I walked to the door, feeling it tighten about my neck. As I reached the threshold, I could still breathe, but only just. The open doorway burned, white light. A heavy hand fell on my head. Ted fondled my ears clumsily. He wasn’t sound asleep.

“Hey,” he said. “Wanna go outside, kitten? You know that’s dangerous. It’s bad out there and you should stay safe. But if you want to…”

I wasn’t going to go outside, I said. The LORD told me not to, and I won’t.

He laughed. “First we got to make you pretty. Give you a makeover.”