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Shirley’s kneecaps cracked when she crouched to lift the dog flap. A pair of bedazzled white running shoes came into view. They looked expensive, and as clean as if they were on a store shelf instead of planted side by side on her sagging porch. She didn’t know anyone who could afford shoes like that. So, she let the dog flap slip shut and straightened back up, this time hearing her hip protest.

“Aunt Shirley,” a young woman’s voice called out, accompanied by the rap-rap-rap, of skinny knuckles.

She was nobody’s aunt, and she had a mind to tell the trespasser that, but then the voice said, “It’s me. Jenny.”

Jenny. Jenny-Laura’s-daughter Jenny? What possible reason would the girl have to come all this way?

“I’ve got something for you,” she said. “From Mom.”

At that, Shirley turned the deadbolt and opened the door as wide as the cheap chain lock would allow.

Sure enough, it was the girl, Jenny, slightly older than the version she’d last seen at Laura’s house soaking in the pool. Her polished shoulders were held high, like a new suit on a hanger and her clear unjaded eyes showed no after-effects from the three-year pandemic that had robbed the posture and hopefulness from everyone in this neighborhood.

The girl repositioned an upscale grocery store tote in the crux of her arms, and her tiny biceps bulged.

“Jenny,” Shirley did her best attempt at a smile. She released the chain lock but left no space for the girl to slip into the house. “My Lord, what brings you here?”

“I wanted to give you this.” Jenny lifted the bag slightly.

Shirley’s mouth salivated as she took in the images of glistening meat displayed between the girl’s manicured fingernails. God, she hoped it was a roast. Since the pandemic, red meat had been hard to come by. She could already smell the splattering fat.

“You didn’t have to bring me anything,” she said, tucking her arthritic hands into her skirt pockets to resist making a grab for the bag. “It’s just lovely to see you.”

“May I?” Jenny asked, jerking her head toward the entryway.

“Of course, I’d ask you in but…”

“No, of course not. That’s not what I meant.”

The upside of the Quarantine was there was no longer an expectation to invite anyone anywhere. Still, some people of privilege thought rules didn’t apply to them.

“I just wanted to put this inside for you,” Jenny explained.

Shirley’s eyes scanned the neighboring houses as Jenny carefully placed the treasure onto the welcome mat. When she straightened up, she showered her white shoes with tears.

“Mom specifically wanted you to have it,” the girl’s voice broke and she battled the downpour with the backs of her hands.

So definitely not a roast.

“You were Mom’s best friend. You meant the world to her.”

“Your Mom meant the world to me too,” Shirley said. “Damned virus!”

She hoped the girl would hurry along now. The possibilities of what the bag might contain had her mind doing somersaults. Was it jewelry? Could Laura have gifted her the sapphire bracelet she had always openly admired? (She’d secretly hoped that one day her friend would just yank it off her own wrist and clasp it on to hers.) But the bag seemed heavy. It would be more than a bracelet. Maybe a bracelet and a roast. Or even a whole jewelry box, full of bracelets. And pendants and earrings and… Would the girl put something that valuable in a shopping bag and drive it across town on her own?

“I wanted to keep it,” Jenny admitted, eye makeup smeared across her face.

“Then you should,” Shirley said, knowing the girl wouldn’t, but still cautiously sidling closer to the bag near her feet.

Whatever was inside had to be valuable. She’d fill the fridge with it. Pay bills with it. Toss the ratty bedcovers that smelled of fumes from the last disinfection.

Jenny opened her mouth to speak, and for a moment Shirley thought she might be considering taking the bag back after all. Don’t worry, she stopped herself from saying. Whatever it is can easily be replaced with a small fraction of your inheritance.

“Mom would be so disappointed if I didn’t give it to you,” Jenny concluded. “She’d haunt me.”

“Yes,” Shirley gave a short laugh, smothering a sigh of relief. “You’re probably right. Laura wouldn’t want her last wishes to be ignored.”

“I know. But maybe I can come by from time to time when things are better? It would make me feel closer to her.”

“Yes, of course,” Shirley said. “That would be lovely. Or we could have lunch together. Your mom loved going out for lunch.”

Shirley dared to pat the girl’s hand and was surprised at its softness. Her own knuckles tore from age and hand sanitizer.

“Open it,” Jenny urged. “I want to know what you think.”

Shirley felt the girl’s eyes on her as she pulled the bag next to her. She was surprised to discover just how heavy it was. Had Laura willed her one of those god-awful bronze busts she collected? If so, she’d wait a respectable amount of time before calling Christie’s.

“It means so much that your mom wanted me to have something to remind me of her. She was such a kind woman. Such a good friend.”

Shirley could hardly contain the twitches from the corners of her mouth when she peered inside and saw that just as she’d suspected, the meat shop bag held one of Laura’s intricate jewelry boxes. Her heart rate quickened with pure glee. She couldn’t help but dream about the meals she would enjoy, the vacation she would eventually take.

She lifted an enquiring gaze at her friend’s mournful daughter. No wonder the girl was upset. The box probably contained a treasure of heirlooms. Maybe even the sapphire bracelet.

“Is it--?” Shirley began to ask, overwhelmed.

Jenny nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Mom’s ashes. She wanted you to have them.”