Lorenz’s butterfly vanishes somewhere in the alley out back from Bea’s place. Dany stands in the shade of a pear tree. Two long depressions, left by tire tracks, mark the alley. On either side of those tire tracks, clutches of crabgrass feed on shadow.
Dany looks everywhere, but the butterfly is gone.
She closes her eyes – feels for the strange attractor, the one that lifted from her wall and fluttered to life. But when she opens her eyes, it is Mac she sees, smiling, from the mouth of the alley. The kid’s mouth is ringed with purple, like she’s been eating a cartoon eggplant. Eva must’ve given the kid sweets.
The kid catches sight of Dany and runs, full throttle, throwing her little body at Dany’s chest. Even knowing what’s coming, the weight of the kid surprises her, and Dany clutch
