Takota hovered over Zoe's limp form. She was breathing. She didn't appear to be sick, even her coloring was fine under the flashlight's yellowish hue. He touched her forehead, only to find it warm but not hot. "What happened to her?" 

"She didn't believe." 

"Z was the one who told me we were doing the ritual. And I'm glad she did because I feel fantastic." It was true, his stomach didn't ache like it had all week and the white lines obscuring his vision disappeared the moment he placed the berries on the altar. 

Deer let off a high-pitched squeal before they passed out from fear and Zoe's behavior was exactly the same. When he felt better, she started screaming at the top of her lungs and pointing at Spooky Tree like it was Ste ye hah. Then she dropped to the ground. He wondered if she saw Ste ye hah to help her be more flexible with her unbending view of how the world is put together. 

He shook her. "Z, come on. Let's go home." 

She didn't stir. 

"I'll help you carry her home. She will be fine after a long sleep." 

Takota didn't think bringing John to the Sohappy house would make his mom very happy. He pulled Zoe's keys from her coat pocket and said, "We'll take her to her house." 

They lifted Zoe off the ground and silently walked to the Thorntons. 

The warmth of the house heated Takota's chilled skin as the two men laid Zoe on her bed. 

"Can we talk a little before I head back up the mountain?" John asked. 

Takota wanted to say no, but after John's help with Ste ye hah, and carrying Zoe to safety, he didn't think it was right about sending him away without giving him a little of his time. "Sure, for a few minutes. Let me get her situated in here." 

John left the room as Takota tugged her boots and coat off. He tucked the white and grey comforter under her chin. 

The cold of his grandmother's touch rested on his shoulder. 'You did good, Hatali. I will stay with her while you speak with your father.' 

He didn't want to leave Zoe but rose to his feet anyway. "For once in his life he did a decent thing, but I won't forgive him for the past." 

'Okay but tell him that I'm proud of him for staying away from the drink since you visited the Shaman.' 

"Really?" 

She nodded and sat down on the leather desk chair. Her needles and yarn appeared in her hands. 

Takota closed the door behind him. 

John stood in the hallway with his hands in his pockets, looking at the pictures on the wall. "The Thornton's are kind people." 

He noticed that the air didn't smell like whiskey around John. "They are like family to me." 

"I see that." He pointed to a couple of pictures. One of Takota and Zoe's graduation. The Thornton's and his mom wrapped themselves around him in a huge hug. And the other was of Zoe and Mr. T horseback riding with him on the trail around Rimrock Lake. That one was Takota's favorite days because Rhyme had arrived to the Sohappy boarding stables earlier that week. To celebrate, they had a picnic and spent the whole day riding and joking about bugs, school and what they would be when they grew up. He always envied how lucky Zoe was to have such a cool dad, but that day he did too. 

Takota walked into the kitchen. He started the coffee and pulled two mugs from the cupboard. 

John's footsteps stopped near the dining table. 

Takota poured the drinks and brought them to the Thorntons dining table. He looked at Mr. T's chair and hoped that he is doing okay. He sets one of the coffee mugs in front of John. 

John lifted the cup to his nose. 

"Plain black coffee, strong enough for us to get through one conversation. After it's gone, you leave." 

"That's fair." He sipped the hot beverage. "Thanks, it's nice." 

They sat in awkward silence for half a cup. Takota burnt his tongue trying to drink the hot beverage faster than he should, so he can end this encounter with John. 

"How is school going? I hear you want to be a lawyer." 

He wondered how John knew that but didn't want to ask how or to care that he did. "Good. I graduate in June and then I'm off to Seattle to continue school and intern with a small firm as a researcher." 

"That's great. I always wanted to go to the city but never had the chance." 

Takota gulped more of his coffee then glanced at the mostly full cup John still had sitting in front of him. 

"She your girlfriend?" He jutted his chin towards Zoe's bedroom. 

"Z?" 

John nodded. 

Takota chuckled. "No. She's my best friend, nothing more." 

"Why not? You aren't into guys are you?" 

Takota was slightly offended by John's tone. 

He must look upset because John held his hands up. "I didn't mean anything by it, I was just curious why a good-looking guy doesn't have a sweetheart." 

"I just haven't found the right girl yet." He thought of Maddy and wondered if he would ever find out if she was the right one for him. 

"Your mom was perfect for me, but I... well, you know." 

Takota gripped the mug in his hands, turning his knuckles white. "She's fine without you. Mac treats her well and takes care of the business too." 

"Good, good. She deserves the best after putting up with me." 

Takota downed the last of his coffee, the sound of the empty container hitting the table reminded him of a judge's gavel. "Times up." 

John guzzled the last of his coffee and stood from the table. "You should visit your grandfather more often, he enjoyed seeing you." 

"I'm busy most the time." 

"I can leave when you come if you don't want to see me. But he is getting on in age and I don't know how long he will be around." 

"I'll keep that in mind." 

John made his way to the front door. 

Takota wouldn't have gotten Zoe back to the house without his father. "Thanks for the help tonight." 

"Any time, kid." 

Takota watched him walk down the Thornton's dark driveway. "Grandma said she's proud of you for staying sober." 

John turned around and grinned. "I thought I smelled mom's perfume." His crooked, yellow teeth and unkempt hair wasn't as ragged as it was earlier this week. His face wasn't puffy from drinking. Perhaps this was what John needed and that made Takota feel better than any of the words that passed between them.