Ignoring her own rule that it was never a good idea to be rude to a psychic, Tess said, “Is that the custom around here? Really? I do think that people should ask to be invited into a room. I don’t even mean that. Doesn’t anyone ever call before they stop by?” she added. There was a lot of attitude in Tess’s voice.

“I do like to make an entrance,” said Adele.

Tess didn’t respond to that. She was startled by the way Adele had “appeared” and she realized there was no sign of Princess anywhere in the room . . .

Tess was worried about Max or “the person who used to be Max.” And she didn’t know exactly what Adele’s purpose or motive might be. She tried to remember her dad’s advice. “Keep a calm surface,” he’d say, “as if you’re relaxed. But always be aware and ready to act at any moment.” Tess realized this was one of those moments.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Tess said, changing her tone. “You simply startled me. I wasn’t expecting to see you again, Adele. It’s such a nice surprise. I think the rain has put me out of sorts. I don’t have much to offer you,” she said. “I have a bag of licorice though. You don’t like red?”

“You’re quite right,” said Adele, ignoring the licorice question. “But I didn’t want anyone to see me. You can understand that, can’t you?”

Tess nodded.

“And,” Adele added, “it was very rude of me to drop in this way. Would you like me to leave?”

“Not really,” said Tess. “I’m—I’m glad you stopped by.”

It wasn’t the first time Tess had seen anybody morph although it hadn’t occurred to her that Adele and the terrier Princess were the same being. She wondered what else Adele could do.

Tess looked down to confirm there was no sign of the little terrier, at all. And oddly, or not so oddly, Adele had a pink satin headband in her hair with a pink bow angled at the side.

“All right, then,” said Adele, “I thought you might need some looking after,” she said.

Tess had to admit that might be true.

Adele led Tess to the couch and asked Tess to sit down with her.

Tess sat quietly, not saying a word, while Adele took a good long look at “the person who used to be Max.”

The boy was standing, very still. He’d put his boots back on. His posture was almost perfect. The look he was giving Adele back was very strange.