“Do you want to try it before we leave?” I asked.
“Why would I do that?”
“To make sure you like it.”
“I am sure it will be pleasant. It has strawberries.”
I didn’t know that was a sure indicator of pleasantness, but nodded.
“Here is your card,” Talli handed it to me.
“Thanks,” I said. “You have a nice—”
“Light of the Dawn,” Than said, and there was warmth in his voice, but it was also strained as if he were very new to the operation of his brain and needed to keep his eyes on the prize just to get the words out.
“Yes, uh,” I said. “Have a nice light of the dawn.”
“No,” Than said. He bent just enough so he could easily see her, and she could easily see him. “Light of the Dawn.” He extended his hand.
That man had arms. Long, long arms. He easily reached across me so that his hand was out my window.
In his hand was a very small, bright yellow, folded origami box. Sticking up from the box was a tiny green stalk and leaves.
“Oh,” she said, eyeing the little plant. “Yes.” She nodded and nodded, her eyes never leaving the offering. “Is it for me?”
“It is.”
I’d thought I’d seen her smile before. But not like this. It was both delight and that little bit of awe when the gift is something that has been hoped for but never expected.
She very carefully lifted it from his hand and tried to get her smile under control without much success.
“It is very, yes,” she said, “very alive.”
Than didn’t smile. I’d had yet to see him so much as smirk, but he did incline his head as if he were very proud of that acknowledgment. “As I said it would be.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I will plant it. It will grow.”
“Good,” he said, drawing back. “Perhaps you will show me once it is planted.”
“I will.” She very carefully placed the tiny plant on a high shelf in the shop, a place where it wouldn’t get bumped or hurt, then went back to work.
I waited a minute. “Is that it? Are we done?”
“We are done,” Than said.
Talli gave me a short wave. “Have a good day, Chief Delaney.”
“You too.”
I rolled up my window and took a sip of coffee. “That’s good. She’s good at that. Coffee.”
“Yes,” Than agreed, as he lifted the cup lid and blew over the top. The air filled with the summer scent of strawberries. He closed his eyes and took a sip. “Yes, she is.”
Chapter Ten
I strodeinto the station and found a dozen people crammed into our tiny lobby. Kelby, behind the front desk, nodded.
“Chief,” she said.
