Summary

Darcy comes home to find a man with a dog outside of her house, but she recognizes the man as Tom Valeska. Tom has been Jamie’s best friend since childhood when “Jamie found him locked out of his house across the road. Jamie called it that house for poor people because sad families moved in and out with alarming regularity” (37). Darcy reminisces about Tom’s youthful shyness and the easy way that he began to fit in with her family.

Back in the present, Darcy greets Tom, asking him what he is doing at her house so late. He replies that he is starting the construction on her house tomorrow. She replies that she didn’t know because her phone has been broken for a few weeks. The pair have an easy chat, walking down memory lane together. Darcy notes that “If...