Lu stared at her, and for once, I wasn’t sure what she was thinking.
“That’s…kind of you,” Lu said, “but I won’t be staying that long.” Lu walked to the door. Dot was right on her heels following her through.
“But Lorde. She needs time to recover.”
“She’ll be fine. I’ll take care of her.”
“Of course,” Dot said. “Of course you will. I just want you to know you’re welcome. Welcome to stay at no charge until she’s better.”
Lu nodded, but she was scanning the street, scanning the buildings, the barbershop on the corner, the trees stirring in the warm wind.
“I’m sure he’s left by now,” Dot said, guessing correctly who Lu was looking for. “I called the Sheriff’s office, and they think he’s long…”
“What?” Lu asked.
“The Sheriff,” Dot said. “I called their office. He had a gun. He shot your poor dog. Someone shouldn’t get away with that.”
Lu lifted her hands to rub at her eyes but stopped before touching her skin. Her fingers were still sticky with dried blood. She’d tried to wipe it off, but hadn’t managed to get it all.
Dot noticed she was staring at her fingers and immediately jumped into mother mode.
“Let’s get you a shower and a cup of tea. I have a fresh batch of scones and donuts in the trunk of the car. BunBun’s best. You and I can sit on the porch for a few minutes.”
Lu frowned at her.
“Just long enough for tea and a scone,” Dot promised. “Please. Let me do something to make staying at my old house better. Please.”
Lu sighed. “Tea sounds nice.”
I grinned. “Aw, she got through your prickly armor. Look at that, Lu. You just made a friend.”
Lu shook her head slightly, as if I were being ridiculous, or maybe as if she were.
Either way, she and Dot got in the car, and I ducked into the back seat. I’d ride over with them, make sure they were okay, then come check on Lorde in a bit.
“Tea does sound nice,” I said, wishing I could taste it again, wishing I could feel the heat of a cup in my palms, could smell the sweet flowery steam.
I missed the bakery and the quiet times Lu and I would find together after the shop closed, when we would both sit down for a cup of tea or coffee.
“Sounds very nice,” I said.
Chapter Fourteen
Dot was in full hostess gear, sending Lu off to the shower while tea was brewed and BunBun’s best were placed on a wooden platter shaped like an apple.
I walked with Lu into the room. Stella was there, sitting in the corner angrily knitting. She didn’t look up at me or Lu as we continued into the bathroom.
Lu turned on the shower, then slowly pulled off her boots, socks, shirt, knives, and tank top. Wearing only a baby blue bra, the pocket watch, and her dark jeans, she tossed every other piece of clothing and the weapons into the corner of the room where they tangled in a pile.
“Messy,” I said softly.
She smiled, her fingers pausing on her belt buckle. “I’ll clean it up later,” she murmured.
These old words between us, long ago shared, repeated, and faded, like all our memories. Handled so often they had softened to a hush.
“No, you won’t,” I told her. Like I always told her.
“I’ll pay you to do laundry,” she said. Like she always said.
