Chapter 26I stood on the sidewalk of the quiet street, gazing about me contentedly, distractedly, a part of my attention attached to Joy, the rest simply being there, waiting. At first I didn't recognize her, though that seems impossible to me now. I had not heard from her or about her in so many years, not since Francis had been born. I hadn't thought much of her since Joy had come to be with me, but there she stood, a vision of haunting beauty.
She looked nearly as lost as she had when I had first known her, looking as if she might cry at any moment, or run away into the night. She stood upon the steps of the church, unable to go inside. The full moon cast a hazy glow over her, tinted her pale skin ever so slightly to make her look almost human. I stood nearly a block away, watching, an
