Savannah inhaled deeply, not in shock but to steady herself. Kate's words brought back to her the visceral memory of when Peter vanished, her first real friend here who had simply been gone one morning. It was harder than death when someone was just gone. No goodbyeonly grieving. She understood why his dog would cry. And she understood when a person just couldn't. When it was all stopped up and threatened to come out but was blocked by something so powerful.

"You shouldn't be here, Kate," she said. "You should go home. I know you want to keep busy but you need time for yourself."