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The clothes racks are already out on the sidewalk when I get to Koko’s store.

Koko herself is sitting behind the counter with her head in her hands and a very large coffee in front of her.

“Hey,” I say softly, and she looks up.

“Lise, hey.” She slumps onto the counter dramatically. “I am hanging on by a very thin thread this morning. Last night was a good time. It’s too bad you couldn’t make it.”

I feel the tiniest pang of guilt that I forgot to text her and confirm that I wasn’t coming.

“Thanks again for that dress. It was perfect.” I move toward the rack near the changing room, not entirely sure of where I left the jacket when I made my quick exit.

It’s not on the rack by the mirror. Or the two other racks next to it. I check the changing room just in case, but it’s empty.

“Hey Koko.”

She opens her eyes but doesn’t lift her head.

“That jacket you had me try on yesterday, the leather one. Do you know where it went?”

She closes her eyes and lets out a long breath through her nose. “If it’s not on those racks, then I probably sold it.”

My heart sinks. “Do you remember who bought it?”

Koko lifts her head, her fingers grope for the paper cup, and she proceeds to drink several gulps of her coffee at an awkward angle I wouldn’t have thought possible.

“Might have been the guy who came in earlier. The burrito I had after the bar last night was making a morning appearance, so I was in the bathroom. He had cash, so I told him to tally it up on his own. You know, the honor system. I’m not sure what he ended up taking.”

I scan the store one last time but find nothing resembling the jacket. “Okay, well, thanks anyway.”

I push open the door to leave and notice that Koko is still slumped in the same position.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I ask her.

She lifts an arm to wave me off. “I’ll be fine. Eventually, I’ll summon the energy to make my way to the bagel place. As soon as I get some carbs in my belly, I’ll be right as rain.”

I take her word for it and step back out onto the street. However, when I get to my door, I hesitate.

No matter what caused that hallucination with the jacket yesterday, it was a reminder of Uncle Larry. That whole scene was a metaphor for the kind of guy he was: a man who’d give you the literal jacket off his back. He was the best kind of human.

With a clear picture of him in my head, I reverse directions and head to the other end of the block. I enter The Bagel Stop and purchase a poppy seed bagel with extra cream cheese and another egregiously large coffee.

When I return, Koko is exactly where I left her.

“Hey,” I say quietly, holding out the bag and coffee.

She opens her eyes, then immediately sits up. “You sweet baby angel girl. I’d kiss you right now if you were into it and my breath didn’t smell like haddock.”

I set the bagel and coffee on the counter. “Well…hopefully this gets you back on your feet.”

She opens the wrapper, takes a huge bite, and moans.

I leave her to her breakfast and head back upstairs, a little bud of warmth blooming in my chest.

• • •

When I return to the apartment, Mackenzie is back. I walk by his bedroom, the door partially open, and catch a glance of him attempting to put a fitted sheet on his mattress. Every time he gets a corner on, the opposite pops off.

I consider asking if he needs help, the rush of my earlier good deed still fresh in my brain, but when Mackenzie looks up, and our eyes connect, I flush, panic, and instead walk quickly to the kitchen to get a glass of water that I don’t need.