Bob put his arms around Helen and held her close. She leaned on him, no longer trying to stop the tears. “We'll have to keep her distracted,” said Bob to Mimi.

Mimi nodded. “Can do. Maybe we can start doing more as a family. We can go on picnics with me in corgi form and she can watch me play fetch with Dash.” Mimi walked to Helen and touched her shoulder. “Hel, if you're having trouble sleeping, you could try valerian. That really helps me sleep through my nightmares. I have some if you want to try it.”

“I love you both so much,” Helen whispered. “I think I will try the valerian, Mimi.”

Mimi nodded and made a quick exit, returning with a bottle of valerian tablets. Helen washed one down with the chamomile, grimaced—“Yeah, it tastes like hot boiled ass”, said Mimi—and then found herself in the middle of a three-person embrace with her husband and niece.

“If Evelyn misses you too,” Mimi hedged, “she might be willing to try being friends now.”

Helen sighed. “That might help.”

“You'd only try to be friends with Evelyn, though, right?” Bob hedged, and Helen didn't reply for a moment.

“I don't know,” she said eventually. “It might be enough.”

“Why don't we talk about this later?” Bob suggested, and Mimi gave Helen a quick squeeze.

“You might be able to think more clearly after you've had a full night of sleep,” Mimi added.

Helen nodded. “You're right. I should try to get back to sleep.” She drained her mug of chamomile and placed it in the sink, then walked up the stairs hand in hand with Bob. Mimi watched them go, head tilted, thoughtfully biting her lower lip.