The night was chilly. At midnight Lee met his mother in the conservatory, the first time both had been there the same time since their shattering revelation. That seemed a world away now, and as Lee lit a joint and passed it her way -- and she decided it was the right time to enjoy a little once again -- the hard feelings of that horrible time would slip further away.

Five minutes after her first few pulls in years, Stevie remarked wistfully how suddenly the delicious haze had come on. Her eyelids heavy, her eyes began to redden, and she got a raging thirst for some chilled orange juice....