As I stood there not knowing what to do, Kelli bent toward Trevor as if curious to hear what he was whispering. She cocked her head to the side. After a moment, she started whispering along with him.

I glanced through the curtains again, to Noel’s house. Now the entire place was lit up, from the basement to the second floor. I saw him rush past a window. Then a woman followed, gesturing in a patient, unruffled sort of way. What was happening over there? I realized I wasn’t even sure what I wanted — for Noel to hurry or for Noel to take his time.

As Kelli got caught up in the rhythms of whatever she was whispering, she began to rock. To my surprise, she was growing comfortable there with Trevor in her lap. Something about his reverent whispering had put her at ease. I wasn’t sure how long I should let this ceremony — if that’s what it was — between Trevor and my sister continue. Then again, I wasn’t even sure it was a question of let. Trevor still hadn’t left, though he had said he would, but he had said that many times before. Noel still wasn’t here. There was still no shotgun. There was only the threat of those things. I didn’t know if I had the upper hand or not. If there was even such a thing with Trevor.

“Trevor,” I said.

Distantly, I heard a siren. But we often heard sirens in the distance.

He started whispering more loudly, as if to drown me out. I believe in you, I heard him say. He was now rocking in synchrony with Kelli. I believe in you. I do. I do.

“Trevor you have to leave now.” There was panic in my voice, because I think on some level I understood what Trevor was doing with this repetition, these avowals. He was attempting to eradicate the immediate future — the consequences of everything he’d done up to this point. Or maybe that doesn’t make sense — to say Trevor was trying to eradicate something that hadn’t happened yet. Maybe it makes more sense to say that he was fortifying himself against those consequences. He was seeking, and drawing, strength. So that he could stand against them when the time came. So all his love and delusion could remain intact.

“I believe in you —”

The siren hadn’t died away. It was louder now, and I took a gamble on it. “Do you hear that?” I said. “They’re coming.”

“You can’t make me not believe in you.”

“Leave,” said Kelli, quite clearly.

I was amazed. I’d never heard Kelli issue an order like this before. Trevor raised his head, mouth open, and in the same moment my sister raised her hand and placed the back of it lightly against his forehead. As if checking for a fever. Trevor closed his eyes. He leaned into her hand and grimaced — but it was, I saw, a joyful grimace. He was overwhelmed. And at first I didn’t understand.