Summary

Birdie locates the address she’s been given, but no one is home. She tries to think of what her mother would do in this situation, and then walks to the back of the building, finds an open window, and climbs in. Met by a friendly puppy, she examines the apartment and is certain it is, indeed, where Deck lives. Judging by the messiness of the place, she also determines that there is no woman living there. Deck arrives and, after a moment of shock, embraces Birdie awkwardly. Birdie wants to ask the bigger question of what possible excuse he could have for not looking for her, but she instead asks where Cole is. Her father replies that she is living in Berkeley and that Birdie can see her any time. Then Birdie does ask the bigger question. Deck replies that it would have been “a...