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Justin’s mom’s house was a two-story in a quiet suburban neighborhood. There were little butterfly flags in the planters and a red tricycle by the garage. The driveway next to Justin’s car was full of children’s chalk drawings.

This was the kind of house that had a bouncy slide in the backyard during birthday parties and Christmas lights on the holidays. I knew without knowing that on Halloween Justin’s mom handed out candy dressed in a costume while jack-o’-lanterns flickered on the steps, and on Easter she’d hide pastel eggs around the yard.

It was funny, but seeing this brought Justin full circle for me. This is why he was well balanced and level. He’d had a good childhood. I could tell. And I wondered if it was as obvious that I hadn’t.

Justin had come out onto the front porch to meet me when my Uber pulled up. The second I saw him I was glad I came. He wasn’t Mom, and he wasn’t Maddy. He was a break. And he was happy to see me. It was impossible not to feel better when I saw him as I got out of the car.

“Hey,” I said, coming down the walkway.

He went right in and gave me a hug.

It was nothing but friendly. He didn’t hold me for longer than he should. But I found myself sort of wishing he would have. I needed the hug, I realized. And Justin was a really good hugger. Warm and firm, like he’d given and received a lot of hugs in his life.

He was in a T-shirt and jeans. He hadn’t done anything with his hair like he had yesterday. It was shaggy and loose the way it was the day we video called on his walk. I decided I liked this better. It was the kind of hair you wanted to run your fingers through. The kind that came with lazy Sunday mornings and familiarity.

He looked at what I was wearing and smiled. “Scrubs.”

“I came right from work.”

I heard a dog-crying noise from the door and peered around him. Brad was scratching at the screen.

Justin nodded over his shoulder. “Come on. Meet my dog.”

The little Brussels Griffon bounced off my legs in the vestibule, and I knelt down to pet him.

“Justin, he’s so cute!” He licked the underside of my chin and I laughed.

“He’s better now that the mange is gone,” Justin said. “I guess he is pretty cute these days.”

Brad lunged to lick me on the lips, and I fell backward on my bottom and burst into laughter. Justin was beaming from his spot by the door. Then I saw the little girl peeking around the corner. She had wispy brown hair and Justin’s brown eyes. She was barefoot and wore a light blue nightgown.

“Hello,” I said.

She pulled back a little, only one eye visible from the doorframe.

Justin crouched. “Chels, come here.” She paused for a moment, like she was thinking about it. Then she darted into his arms. He scooped her up and stood. “This is my friend Emma. Can you say hi?”

She peered at me shyly as I got to my feet. “Hi,” she said softly.

I noticed a Band-Aid on her knee. “Oh, did you get a boo-boo?”

She nodded.

“Emma’s a nurse,” Justin said. “Maybe she can change your Band-Aid for you later.”

“An Elsa one,” she said, quickly.

“We have those,” Justin said, winking at me.

“I can work with that.” I smiled.

She put her head on Justin’s shoulder and my heart melted a little. He was her safe person. The dog was sitting by his feet now too and I remembered what Maddy said about dogs, that they always tell you who the good people are.

Justin nodded toward the back. “Dinner’s ready. Let’s go eat.”

I followed him through the house. It was a comfortable home—the lived-in kind. The living room had a sofa with a gray tweed slipcover, a multicolored carpet. A dark wood coffee table, a toy bin next to a child-size easel. A backpack was tossed onto a chair, framed family photos sat on a buffet table against the wall.

“Did you ever live here?” I asked.