Kate shook her fist at the air in triumph, overjoyed for the first time in several years to see a cloudless sky. She tossed her bag into the car her sister rented for Thane and started driving north just as the sun made its way to the horizon.

Five minutes into her drive, she’d looked at the empty seats, both in the front and back, at least a dozen times. Kate had learned a long time ago to be happy even when alone, but it felt strange not to have Tim, or even Thane present. ...