“Oh my god, no,” says Finn, feeling her heart break a little at the worried expression on London’s face. How long has she been carrying this particular guilt? Finn takes London’s shoulders by the hand and looks her straight in her Parker-grey eyes. “London, this has nothing to do with anything that you did, okay? This is just the way the disease works. It gets worse.”

London blinks away tears. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” The kettle reaches a scream, and Finn turns back to the counter, pouring the boiling water into the brown Betty. She’s not sure London is entirely convinced, but at least her niece is confiding in her again.

“Actually, I think that trip with you was the most fun she’s had in years.”

London smiles reluctantly. “It had its moments,” she admits.

“Maybe we can all go to Duluth together sometime,” Finn says. “You, me, your mom –”

“Oh god, no,” London says, smiling for real this time. “Not Mom. Besides, in case you’ve forgotten, I’m grounded for basically the rest of eternity.”

“I’m sure we can work something out,” says Finn.

“Okay!” Kate sings, clapping her hands together. “I did it!”

Finn and London return to the table, where Kate has played the word destin. Finn shakes her head. “You need a ‘y’ for that, Mom. It’s ‘destiny.’ ”

“No, it’s ‘destin.’ ” She pronounces it “desTAN.”

“That’s French,” says London, sitting down in a chair next to Kate. “French for ‘destiny.’ ” She puts her hand on Kate’s arm. “Did Lydia teach you that?”

Kate blinks. “Who’s Lydia?” she asks.

“Yeah, who’s Lydia?” Finn asks, too. She carries the tea tray over the table and sets it near the board, raising an eyebrow at London. Someone they met on the road, perhaps? Maybe one of London’s old French teachers? Why would she expect Kate to know who she was?

But London is staring at Kate, and there is a look on her face that Finn can’t quite describe – as though she is overcome with an emotion she is too young to understand. “You don’t remember?” London asks finally, squeezing Kate’s arm. “Are you sure?”

“I’m quite sure, dear,” says Kate. She picks up a tile and moves it next to a different tile, humming under her breath.

London sits back in her chair, and Finn is surprised to see there are tears in her eyes. “It’s okay,” London says. “I do.” She puts her head on Kate’s shoulder as the tears slide down her cheeks. Kate tilts her head, resting it contentedly on top of London’s.

This family, Finn thinks, watching the way their bodies fit together to form the shape of something entirely new. Even if I had spent every day of my life in this house, it would still be full of mysteries. She sits back down at the table and begins to pour the tea.

—