On Sunday, Reeta arrives promptly at 4:30 P.M., as they agreed. Naomi is waiting anxiously in the front entryway to make sure her guest doesn’t feel awkward coming into the center.
Reeta smiles warmly, offering a hand to Naomi. A cool hand, not warm like the other night. Naomi has a flash of memory around the dog incident. She’s curious, but not so much so that she wants to bring it up while Reeta is visiting. Naomi is conscious of the fact that this is her home turf—at least while she’s here in Finland.
“Welcome to Arteles. I’m…so glad you came. Come on, I’ll show you the main area.”
Reeta smiles again, a smile that charms her nervous hostess. She follows Naomi into the large common room of the center.
“Can I get you a drink?” Naomi offers in her best hostess voice.
“That would be lo
