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And he was all about that. Moral simplicity was his jam.

He looked at the time. “I’m going to go collect her. Take her back and get her to sleep.”

“How old is she?” Denver asked.

“She says she’s twenty-six.”

Denver shook his head. “Well, that’s a lie.”

“I know. I just don’t know how much of one it is. But I’ll find out once I get her full name out of her. I’m going to put her on payroll legally and officially. But she’s had a long day. She doesn’t need to be in there doing dishes.”

“Maybe she wants to,” Denver said. “Don’t treat her like a half-drowned kitten when she’s a whole woman capable of standing on her own feet.”

It was a strangely pointed thing for his brother to say.

“I don’t want her feeling like she has to pay us back.”

He moseyed back into the kitchen and leaned in the doorway. Bix was scrubbing dishes as quickly as possible, with Rue putting them away.

“Sorry,” said Daughtry. “I’m going to take your scrubber.”

“We aren’t done yet,” said Bix. “And I can’t make her finish alone.”

“I’ll help,” said Justice.

“You’ve had a long day,” Daughtry said.

The expression she gave him was one of utter confusion. “What?”

“You’ve had a long day. You’re probably tired.”

“Well. Yes. But... I don’t understand why that... I don’t get why...”

“What?” he asked.

“I don’t understand why that matters. Or why you’re concerned about it.”

“Seems like a normal thing to be concerned about.”

“Okay.”

She moved away from the sink like a little robot and dried her hands on her sweatpants.

“Bye,” she said to Justice and Rue.

“Bye, Bix,” said Rue. “Hopefully we’ll see you for dinner tomorrow.”

“Maybe,” she said.

He led her out of the kitchen to another chorus of goodbyes, and when they were outside, walking to the truck, she stopped. “That was... It was very nice. I’m not sure that I should stay.”

“Why not?”

“Because. I can’t get used to this. It’s not ever going to be my life. It’s never going to be normal. It’s never going to be... I can’t get used to eating that much food.”

“Counterargument,” he said, feeling sympathy for her swelling in his chest. “You’re building up your strength.”

“Nobody has ever... You being afraid that I’m tired... No one has ever cared about that before. It’s never mattered. And it’s not something that I’m going to be able to keep.”