Something of an awkward silence fell.

Madeleine cleared her throat. “Thanks for coming, Harry. Maybe it’s time to get the check.”

Afterward, Hæra waited on the sidewalk with Jim and Isla while Connor and Madeleine settled the bill. Jim sighed, shoved his hands in his pockets, and said, “How are you bearing up?”

He’d never asked her such a thing before. Nobody had. Madeleine had told her this was how people showed kindness.

She replied, “I miss Jonathan. I’m not used to being human. My body’s all wrong, and I have to learn how it works. And I also have to learn about business. It’s horrible.”

Isla and Jim exchanged a wide-eyed look. Had Hæra been too honest? She hadn’t spent enough time among people to tell. Apparently that had to change. Jonathan was no longer here to serve as both bridge and shield between herself and humanity. Hæra would have to learn to live in the world beyond Ætlaquoy.

Perhaps she should sound more positive. “But Madeleine’s here. She’s a great help.”

What an understatement. Hæra couldn’t have survived the last couple of weeks without her. Madeleine knew how to handle banks and solicitors and so on, and she explained everything to Hæra as many times as she had to. She cooked, because now Hæra couldn’t subsist on raw meat. She accompanied her on walks even on rainy days.

And she held Hæra close every night, bringing her back from dreams of drowning. Yes. Thank the Great Mare that Madeleine was here.

“Aye, for sure,” Jim said. “Hasn’t she got to go pretty soon, though? She’s a teacher. School’s bound to start soon.”

Hæra’s whole body went rigid.

Isla seemed to notice this. She elbowed Jim, who grimaced. “But, ah, when she does go, you’ve got us, haven’t you? Connor and me. And we know folk who’d be glad to help—Bruce Cursiter on the Mainland has a good spread and could give advice.”

Hæra heard it all and understood perhaps half. Madeleine was leaving soon. She knew that. Hadn’t she thought about it on the terrible night everything had happened? But then Madeleine had crawled into bed with her, held her, and for a moment, things were bearable. Hæra hadn’t thought about it once since then, not even on her solitary rambles.

She hadn’t let herself think about it.