They passed Frost without shaking hands. Lucy’s mother closed the door behind them. The room was warm, and the silence was punctuated by the electronic blips that tracked Lucy’s heart rate, oxygen, and blood pressure. Frost had a big box in his arms, and he sat down in a chair beside her bed with the box in his lap.

Lucy gave him a puzzled smile. “Flowers?”

“A secret visitor,” Frost said. He put his index finger over his lips. “Shhh.”

He undid one of the flaps on the box, and a black-and-white head popped over the side.

“Shack!” Lucy exclaimed happily. The cat looked happy to see her, too. He squeaked with excitement.

Frost scooped him out of the box. He held the cat close to Lucy’s face, and Shack licked her cheek with his sandpaper tongue, making her giggle. She rubbed his head and scratched under his chin and nuzzled him with her nose. He could hear Shack’s loud purr. He let her fuss over him silently for several minutes, and then he slipped the cat back inside the box.

They stared at each other, and it was awkward between them. He didn’t know how to measure the water that had gone under the bridge.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey, you. Thanks for coming. Thanks for bringing Shack. You both cheer me up.”

“You’re going to be fine,” Frost said.

“That’s what they tell me. It’s going to take a while, I guess. Inside and out.”

“Yeah.”

More silence took over. Shack scratched at the box.

“You didn’t do it, Lucy,” Frost told her. “I wasn’t sure if you’d heard. It wasn’t you. You didn’t hurt anyone.”

“I know. My parents talked to your lieutenant. She said Dr. Stein gave a statement. The guy admitted it.”

Frost nodded. “Do you remember anything?”

“No. It’s like I lost everything from the last couple days. I guess that’s good, huh? The last thing I remember—”

He waited.

“The last thing I remember is you and me,” she said. “On the hillside. You holding me. You made me feel safe.”

“I’m glad.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever feel that way again. Not here. Not after everything that’s happened.”

“Lucy—” he began, but she jumped in to stop him. She had more to say.

“So I’m moving back to Modesto when I get out of here. My parents think I should live with them for a while. You know, while I get back on my feet. I figured it was a pretty good idea. I thought you should know.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Frost said. “If that’s what you want.”

“I’ve thought about it a lot. I’m not made for the city, like you.”

“Well, the city will miss you. So will Shack. So will I.”