“Lila, can I talk to you?”

Lila had just come out of the shower, finally out of her nurse’s uniform for the day. “What’s up, Sweet Tea?” she asked, vigorously toweling her dark blonde hair.

Cassidy was in bed, and Nana was playing cards at the social hall. This was Winnie’s chance to talk to her sister alone.

“Lila, I’m going to New York.”

There was a pause. Lila stared at her.

“New York?” she repeated. “City?”

Winnie nodded, patting the couch cushion beside her. “Come. Sit. Come on.” She scooched over, and Lila sat next to her, concerned.

“You’re leaving Wolfpine? You’re moving? Honey, where are you gonna get the money for an apartment there? I don’t—”

“No, Li, no! I’m not moving. I . . .” She hesitated. “I’m using a, um, dating site. Kind of. It’s more of a . . . matchmaking site. There’s a man—”

Lila stared. “A man? In New York?”

“Yes. There’s a man in New York. I’m going to stay with him for a while.”

Lila gazed at her for a long time. “All right, Sweet Tea. Let’s check him out,” she said, and she grabbed for the dinged-up laptop on the coffee table and opened it. “Name?”

“Weston Croft.”

Lila typed it into a search bar. “Address?”

“820 Fifth Avenue.”

“Okay.” Lila added that to the search. “Let’s see.”

“Lila, it’s for real. Probably. I promise. The site’s MeetYourMate. It’s—”

“Oh, my God,” Lila interrupted, shocked. “You’re right. I mean . . . there he is!”

Weston Croft’s name appeared in multiple address and phone listings for the city. There were a few photos of him on Image Search, too, and a profile of him on a corporate website.

“He’s cute!” Lila said, her pretty brow furrowing. “Wow. Really cute.”

“Very cute,” Winnie agreed. When her sister looked at her, she winked. “Right?”

“So, you’re . . . you’re going to meet this man? Sweet Tea, why go so far? What about Wolfpine boys?”

“Wolfpine boys are fine! But they aren’t interested, Li. Look.” She took her sister’s manicured hands. “Why shouldn’t I look a little further afield? I found Weston on a site for serious coupling. I don’t know if anything will happen between us, but we were matched . . . and I thought, ‘Why not?’ What’s the harm? If nothing else, I’ll get a little travel out of it, won’t I? And I got the ticket really cheap. I can show you the receipt. It was almost nothing—”

“No, Sweet Tea. No. That’s your money. It’s fine.” Lila put a hand on her sister’s soft shoulder, gazing at her. “I’m your big sister, Tam. To me, you’re a little girl. But you’re a grown woman, really. I know you are. And I know you want a man. If you’re curious about this one . . .” Lila smiled, a little wistfully. “I support you. But please text me as soon as you land, and as soon as you get to his house, and as soon as—”

“Li, I promise, I will,” Winnie interrupted, smiling. But then she hesitated. “Are you sure you can manage Nana and Cassidy? Because I could still stay. Really. If you need—”

“No,” Lila said firmly. “You’ve carried us on your shoulders for long enough. Go. Have an adventure. Sight-see. Enjoy yourself. And tell me if Weston Croft’s butt is as good in person as it is in this photo.”

“Lila!”

“What?” Lila gave her a kiss on the temple. “I hope you find what you’re looking for there. Or at least a little fun. You deserve it, Sweet Tea. You do.”

“Thanks, Sis,” Winnie said, laying her head on her sister’s shoulder.