Even with Zanne as her escort, Phoebe felt like an intruder—an inept one—as she traveled deeper into the estate. She pleaded with her stomach to stop churning, announcing her arrival, nerves roaring. She was sure Ted was lurking around every corner; then she would be the one surprised to see him for the first time in twenty years and not the other way around. They’d passed an elephant and a giraffe on the drive up the hill, and was that...yes, a monkey. In the driveway, where James let them off the golf cart, there was a fleet of bumper cars, which seemed like a terrible idea if anyone else’s cervical disks were as pinched as Phoebe’s. On the terrace, she saw the Panache people were setting up for the party, but instead of crossing it, Zanne led Phoebe to a path that detoured around. They passed little house after little house, each with people inside, busily working. This place was like a luxury kennel for humans. Every square inch of the property was crammed with structures into which people were stuffed. And yet Ted had no use for people! He was so easily overwhelmed by their emotional needs, their odors and gestures, their hovering wants and pangs.

Phoebe bit her upper lip to keep it from curling. This is what he desired? To surround himself with so many messy, complicated people, and then categorize and cage them into departments? Had he wanted Phoebe kept in her place, too? Well, she thought, fuck that.

“I’m sorry?” Zanne said, and Phoebe realized she’d actually muttered the words under her breath. She shook her head and smiled.

They reached the last of the kennels, a cottage bigger and nicer than all the others. Zanne pointed at the Adirondack chair on the front porch. “Wait there,” she said before disappearing inside.

This time Phoebe did sit. Yes, even if it killed her, she would enjoy the setting and this curated opportunity for rest. She would let the sun warm her thighs. She would close her eyes and listen to the warblers in the trees.

Phoebe heard the door to the cottage open behind her and she stood, momentarily blinded, but she would recognize anywhere the outlines of Ted’s body. Oh, she said, and er, he said, and then suddenly they were hugging and then just as suddenly they weren’t. He was beckoning her in and holding open the door for her.

Phoebe went into the cottage. There was Zanne, a look on her face like she had snuck inside a carnival tent to the see the show.

Another door opened onto an office. “In here?” Phoebe asked.

Zanne glanced at Ted, looking for approbation, and nodded.