And the returned Kate, exuberant about her mother’s brief reappearance, soon after plunged into the dismals. She answered Sam’s questions in a sullen way: No, it wasn’t just her and Mom. Kyle came, too. He went on some of the rides but got sick. Maybe from the rides—how was she supposed to know? Then he took his medicine and went to the motel. Mom got her cotton candy for supper. And pop. Mom lets her drink pop. A cab to the motel? What’s a cab? Oh. No. A man gave them a ride. She didn’t know who. He was nice. He shared his fried dough.

Sam took this in with astonishment. Only when she finished had he closed his eyes for a spell and exhaled. Then he’d met his father’s somber gaze and, with a shake of his head, said, “That’s it. I’m done.”

Now Sam turned right at an intersection. On either side of the street stood rambling mansions with fancy brickwork and old maples. The traffic increased, and the estates gave way to modest houses, then gas stations and plazas. “Our place is just off Main,” he said. A minute later, they crossed the lift-bridge, the truck sounding a clanking strum over the Erie Canal, drove slowly past shops and cafés, and turned left at an old movie theater.

Sam inhaled sharply. He tapped the brakes hard. “You have got to be kidding me.”

Bewildered, Maggie sat up from her slouch and followed his gaze to a faded grayish-green house. On a front porch step sat a young woman, blond and voluptuous, pale hands folded in her lap—obviously waiting. When Sam parked on the side of the road, she smiled wryly and, without unlinking her thumbs, raised both hands for a wave before tucking them against her chest. Her expression turned inquisitive when she switched her attention to Maggie.

Sam stared. “Linnie.”

Hard to believe this was the infamous Linnie. She looked angelic. Had the landlord gotten in touch with her as well? “I’ll just stay in the truck for a bit. Give you guys time to talk.” Maggie didn’t want to get involved. Twisting the curling ends of her ponytail, she added, “I don’t mind hanging out here.”

He cracked the door. “Come on. She won’t stick around. Kyle’s waiting for her.” With a jerk of his chin, he indicated a blue Saab in the driveway.

A man was sitting in there, sleeping perhaps. His head was tilted, propped up by the car window. Maggie was surprised Linnie would bring a new boyfriend to an old boyfriend’s place. Would Sam confront him? Would they fight? She bit her lip. “I think I’d better … stay out of it. She doesn’t know me.”

“Actually, she does. Well…” He widened the door. “She knows about you.”

Maggie absorbed this.