15 THAYU STOOD ON the veranda as we came up the path to the house. “We delivered it,” I said to her. “We can only wait.” “What about the second trip you took?” “I had an idea. I don’t know if it’s going to work.” I’d tell her about Reida’s family later, when we were alone. I thought she sensed that something was off, but Thayu was very much a wait-and-see person, and to be honest she had different things on her mind. We went inside and I was about to go into our room to get dressed in something more comfortable when Deyu said to me, “I’d like to say a few things to you, if I can.” Reida gave her a sideways glance. I wasn’t sure that they had repaired their relationship as much as I’d liked. Although she had said nothing, she might have felt passed over when Reida wouldn’t let her co