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drawstring hanging from the window and gave it a pull, raising the pleated shade to let in the morning. The view from her window was peaceful. A patch of pine trees ran along the back side of the apartment complex. The summer morning sky began to warm, as if the pilot light of the sun had been lit and any moment nowburners all across the heavens would catch the flame and set the sky ablaze.
    Suddenly she heard heavy footsteps on the outside stairs leading to her front door. Lauren held her breath, staring at the closed door. The door knocker was lifted and tapped firmly two times.
    Lauren slid off the couch, her heart pounding. She straightened her robe and quickly ran her fingers through her hair. She knew she looked haggard and grabbed a tissue, trying to wipe off the dark mascara rings under her eyes.
    The knocker sounded again, twice. Lauren cleared her throat. “Coming!” She tried to sound composed. Her hand clutched the brass knob, and she let out a huge breath before opening the door. A pleasant smile was on her face as she prepared to greet Jeff.
    But the man at her door in the early morning haze was not Jeff. This man was scruffy looking, unshaven, with brown hair parted crooked on the side and hanging almost longer in the back than Lauren’s. He held a battered box in his arms and wore a gray T-shirt and jeans.
    “Oh, good. You’re up,” he said.
    “Bradley,” Lauren whispered in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
    “Since when does a guy need a written invitation to visit his sister?” The athletic young man walked in and asked, “Where do you want me to put this?”
    “Put what?”
    “Your computer.”
    “My computer?”
    “Yeah, I brought you a computer.” He waited for a response, and when he didn’t get one, he said, “And now you’re supposed to say, ‘Thanks Rad! You’re a doll.’ ”
    “Thanks, Rad. You’re a dork. What are you doing here?”
    “Visiting you.”
    “You mean to tell me you drove all the way here from California without even calling to tell me you were coming?”
    He gingerly placed the box on the kitchen table. “I knew you would be home. Mom told me that donkey dumped you. Thought you would like a little cheering up. So, ta-da!” He spread his arms and gave her a cheesy grin. “Here I am!”
    “Jeff didn’t dump me. It was mutually agreed that we discontinue our relationship.”
    “Oh yeah, right,” Brad said, opening the refrigerator door. “You’ve rehearsed that one a few times. This isn’t a job interview, Wren. It’s me, Rad. Remember? I know it’s been a few months …” He took the milk out of the fridge and sniffed it before drinking out of the carton.
    “Try years, Radley. When did you grow your hair out?”
    “A while ago,” he said, sliding the milk carton back into the refrigerator. He turned and looked at Lauren. “Did you do something to yourself? You look different.”
    Lauren pulled a strand of hair out to its full length. “Could it be my hair, which used to hang to my waist?”
    “That must be it. You look different,” Brad said, looking her over. “Actually, you look pretty good for someone who just got dogged.”
    “I didn’t get dogged.”
    “Oh, that’s right. What was it? ‘Mutual disagreement’ or whatever? You got dogged. Totally. What I can’t figure out is why would anyone dump you? You’re the best, Wren.” He poked his head deeper into the refrigerator. “Don’t you have anything to eat around here?”
    “Get out of there. I’ll make some breakfast.” Lauren set to work making a blowout breakfast for the two of them. She hadn’t eaten much in days, and her vegetable bin was full ofingredients for an omelet. Brad found a box of pancake mix and went to work alongside her, making Mickey Mouse pancakes.
    It brought back lots of memories for Lauren. The two of them had always been close. Brad was only thirteen months younger than Lauren, and their mom had referred to them as slow twins. Their