Knowing was really too much. There was much more talk of seeing each other and saying hello, if that. As Harper turned into the street with Jill, she recognized four cars parked in front of Asher and Isabelle's house. The gray one that was parked in the driveway next to Isabelle's as usual, a dark green station wagon that belonged to Asher's brother, and Olivia's little white car on the shoulder. So at least she was no stranger to six people.

The awkward question of what Harper should do, ring, wait or call, was fortunately unnecessary as Clementine ran to the car, opened the trunk and took out a shopping bag. As she closed the hatch, the blonde must have seen Harper out of the corner of her eye and waited with the bag in her hand until they were both together.

Harper didn't know how old Clementine was. Older, younger, no idea. It had become 'impossible' to judge people these days. By her estimation, she would have said they were both about the same age. Give or take a year or two, maybe. If at all.

"They only know you with a dog, don't they?" Harper was greeted by Clementine, who was right, "They don't even see you without her."

"Why would I leave her at home when I can take her with me?" Harper replied as a matter of course, shrugging her shoulders, "There are enough situations where she has to stay home, but her life is already so short, so she should be alone as little as possible."

Besides, Jill wasn't Eve. If Harper had a dog like Eve, she wouldn't have wanted to bring her along. Or rather, she would not have been able to take her, because it would have been too much trouble. It would take months of consistent training before the dog could be taken into the city. And even then, Harper knew it wouldn't be easy.