Annabelle quickly seasoned the food with salt and pepper, spooned it onto plates, and joined Elaine at the dining table. Before she was even finished saying the blessing, a crash sounded from the alley outside, and Elaine startled, covering her head with her hands. Annabelle darted to the window where a squealing horse mingled with the shouts from some men in the street below.

“No need to worry,” she said. “There’s an overturned cart in the alley. Potatoes scattered everywhere.”

The racket wasn’t going to end anytime soon, so Annabelle closed the window. It was warm in the apartment, but the commotion outside was needlessly stressful for Elaine.

Annabelle leaned her forehead against the glass and framed her words carefully. “I’ve been offered an interesting opportunity,” she began. “The Smithsonian has long wanted to get a peek inside a rather unique collection of greenhouses. The owner is notoriously private and has always refused . . . but he’s going to open it up to me this weekend.”

Elaine set her fork down. “Where is it?”

“It’s around thirty miles from here. It’s in a very rural area, and I was told I’ll need to get there by river. I could leave Saturday morning and be back by nightfall on Sunday.”

Elaine’s hand clenched around the fork, and her entire body tensed. “I can’t get on a boat. You know I can’t.”

“You can stay here. I’ll only be gone two days.”

“I can’t be alone that long. I can’t.”

“You won’t be entirely alone. You’ve met Mr. and Mrs. Hillenbrand across the hall. They’re here if you need help.”

Elaine shook her head, tight little movements like a bumblebee trapped in a jar. “I know I ask a lot of you, but you can’t leave me alone. You can’t.”

“It’s summer, so there won’t be any need for a flame. I’ll lay in food that won’t need heating. You can bring home braille books from the library. You’ll be all right.”

Her sister’s entire body started to shake, and her breath came short and fast as panic descended. “You can’t go.”

“I’m doing this for us. If I can get cuttings of a particular orchid, the director has promised to find me a permanent position. In the long run it will be for the best.”

Elaine clenched her eyes shut and clamped her jaw, but a long keening scream leaked out anyway. Annabelle reached out to grab Elaine’s hands, for these attacks of panic were terrifying to both of them, with the panting, dizziness, and trembling. Once begun, an overwhelming sense of dread could overcome Elaine for hours.