"Hilde," she says, not in greeting, but like she's testing her own knowledge. Now that she sees her face, though, Gwen knows that's her. Her best friend. Better than Suzie, maybe even better than Ernie — though maybe that's a little like apples and oranges.

She steps inside, watching Hilde'a face. Unlike Neil, Hilde isn't trying to hide surprise or hope or pain. She just has that smile on her face, maybe the tiniest bit of confusion and a little concern, too.

She didn't know.

The Gwen from three days ago might have been offended by that, but the Gwen standing here today isn't. She's relieved. Hilde wasn't missing her, wasn't crying or trying to figure out whether to grieve or not. She was blessedly unaware.

"There's something I need to tell you," she says.