I nod. "For free. Of whatever you want."


    "Why the hell would I want a portrait?"


    "Because a ''Flora'' original is going to be worth a fortune someday," I reply, not caring how haughty I sound at the moment.


    The Beta stares at me, clearly not buying it. I don''t me him, of course; lying to Arthur is a big deal for him, and a painting is, well, a painting. But I hold up the bag of supplies and say, "Besides, I owe you for these. And... Thank you, by the way."


    Ezra nces at the bag and sighs. "I''ll consider it," he says nomittally.


    That''s good enough for me, I suppose. For now.


    With that, Ezra and I make our way back to the apartment building side-by-side in silence. It''s not the mostfortable silence, but I have to admit-it is sort of nice to have somepany on my walk.


    When we arrive, however, wee upon a scene that I wasn''t expecting. There''s a line of cars outside the building, drivers shouting and honking their horns.


    And there, standing in the middle of the street, is Augustine in her nightgown.


    4


    Arthur


    It''s been a long day-a long week, really-and I''m eager to get home. In fact, I leave the office a few minutes early, looking forward to making dinner with Iris and Miles. It''s strange having them in the apartment, but it also feels right. I just wish Iris would stay without a fuss.


    Just as I''m rounding the corner to the apartment building, I notice an ambnce and a police car sitting outside. My heart lurches. Are Iris and Miles hurt?


    I quickly park the car, slipping on my hat and sunsses, and rush inside.


    Iris is sitting in the lobby, Cliff and Ezra and a few EMTs standing nearby. Augustine is sitting beside her. They''re both...ughing.


    I hesitate, not sure what to make of the scene. Augustine, the elderlyndy, has been battling the first symptoms of dementia for some time now. The once bubbly, intelligent, and feisty woman stopped smiling once Iris left, and as ofte, she''s hardly even left her apartment.


    But now...


    Cliff hurries up to me, pulling me aside with Ezra. "What happened?" I whisper.


    Ezra nods his head toward Augustine. "Iris went to the art supply store, and I went with her. When we came back, Augustine was standing in the street, confused."


    I look at Cliff, who''s wringing his hands nervously. "She was having one of her episodes," he says softly. "I tried to get her toe in, but it just frightened her more. While I was calling an ambnce, she ran into the street. It''s a good thing Iris showed up when she did."


    "Iris managed to pull her out of it?" I ask.


    Ezra''s face pales slightly. "It was uncanny," he says, ncing over at where Iris is still sitting with Augustine,


    as can be."


    I blink, surprised. I''ve been around to witness a couple of the elderlyndy''s episodes, and none of us have ever been able to calm her down once she gets in a state. She gets paranoid sometimes, iming that people are plotting against her. Even Cliff, who she''s known for decades, is some sort of secret government spy in her eyes af times.


    But now that Iris is here, she snapped out of it right away? doesn''t make sense, and yet....


    I can''t quite believe it, but at the same time, I can. Iris is a kind, sweet soul at her core, even after all these years of resentment and heartbreak. Even Augustine can sense that in the midst of an episode.


    And it''s moments like this that make me wish even more that she would just stay here with us.