Cletus opened the door to find Aryyah standing there, rain-soaked and shivering, her eyes red from crying but somehow clearer than he had seen them in weeks; without a word, he pulled her inside, grabbed a towel from the back room, and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"You're soaked," he said, his voice filled with concern. "How long were you standing out there?"

"I wasn't standing," Aryyah said, her voice hoarse. "I just got here; I needed to see you."

Cletus studied her face, seeing ...