“What I’m saying is that if the Center burned to the ground, Laurel would be devastated. I would be, too. But Serena doesn’t need this place. She doesn’t even like it here. I don’t blame her. She’s done a lot for me. But we could get in actual trouble for this. If he gets sick. Or, I don’t know. And who knows what’s next? I’m just saying, don’t ever think she’s actually thinking of anyone other than herself. Not Luke, that’s for certain. Not you. Not even me. She’s playing her own game, and nobody but her even knows what it is.”

I had the distinct feeling that Luke getting sick wasn’t really what Janet was worried about. “She cares about us,” I said carefully. “And why wouldn’t she like it here? She’s like the queen of this place.”

“True,” Janet said. “But don’t forget that it also killed her mother.”

Then Evie jumped up onto her bed, ignoring us but too hard, and we played in silence until Laurel came out of the bathroom and made us touch her newly shaved legs, which were so smooth, she said, look how smooth everywhere, so smooth, she said, they could burn you.

When I approached the garden the day after Luke ate the chili, Serena was already there. She was inside the fence this time, sitting on the bench next to him. She looked particularly lovely, I thought. She wore no makeup, and her dress was almost sheer. How I wished I could look like her, in those or any clothes. I felt a pulse between my legs at the idea.

“The Buddha said to work on your own salvation with diligence,” she was saying. She placed her hand on Luke’s bare knee.

“Yes, well, the diligence is the hard part,” he said. He didn’t move her hand. Instead, he reached out and touched her cheek. Despite everything, my first thought was triumphant. It had worked.

I stepped on a stick and they both looked up.

“Perfect timing,” Serena said. I came through the gate and stood in front of them. I felt awkward, like a dingy chaperone, looming over two pretty young dancers. Leave room for Jesus! “I’ve remembered something,” she said, turning her attention back to Luke. “I know exactly what you need to teach us.”

“What’s that?” Luke said.

“Tummo. That’s what my mother was studying, right?”

Luke grimaced. “She really shouldn’t have told you about that.”

“It took me a while to remember. And then I wasn’t sure, because I can’t find it in any books. I’ve been looking.”

“It is written in a few obscure places,” he said. “But it’s a sacred, secret practice. It’s not for beginners.”

“I am not a beginner,” Serena said.