"I was very glad to see you were still upright," Bea said with a bright smile in reply to his speaking of sinful omissions. "I noticed you out here working much earlier this morning, and by yourself at that! I figured it was the most neighborly thing I could do, to come check on you like this. Even if you don't technically live on this block." She looked up at the brownstone he was working on, then back at him. "Is this your place?"
At his question, she turned and pointed to the tattoo parlor just a bit down the street. "That's my shop," she said, then pointed above it. "And that little place up top, that's where me and Pippa live." She leaned down and petted the top of Pippa's white and grey head, though Pippa didn't look away from Raj. She was waiting for attention from what she perceived as a new friend, and if attention did not come, Pippa wouldn't mind. She was just happy to study new people, after all.