He nodded. Then he stared at me again.
After a few seconds, I said, “Don’t you have somewhere to be, Kelly?”
“When I’m ready.”
He put a hand on each side of me, one on each side of my waist, his strong arms caging me in against the counter. I lifted one eyebrow, daring him to say or do whatever was on his mind.Dare for dare.
After a minute or two, he grinned, and then left without saying another word.
* * *
As usual,Kelly sent Raff with me.
We grabbed breakfast down the street from Kelly’s place, two bagels and two teas, before we headed back, going for Raff’s car. He was going to drive me to the fitting and then to pick out a dress for Kelly’s political thing that evening.
“Mrs. Kelly!”
Raff nudged me, and I nudged him back. “Keep your hands to yourself,” I said.
He stopped walking and nodded behind him. “Mrs. O’Connell.”
“Ms. O'Connell?” I said the name at the same time that I turned. The woman from the block party, Maureen, rushed toward me. Connolly kept step, but barely.
“Yeah,” Raff said, narrowing his eyes at them. “She called you twice.”
“Mrs. Kelly,” she said when she was close enough. “I need to ask a favor of you.”
She seemed winded, but I didn’t think it was from the walk. I could tell she was a tough old broad, but something about her seemed almost desperate. It was something about the sound of her voice when she’d said my name.
I’ll have to get used to people calling me by that name. The name that connects me tohim.
Without my response, Maureen barreled right into it. “I need you to keep Connolly for a while. Just until 3 o’clock or so.” She took the little girl by the shoulder and urged her closer to me.
Connolly looked up at me and I looked down at her. I smiled but she didn’t respond.
“I have a fitting for my job.” Not that I minded taking her with us, but she hardly knew me. I didn’t want her to feel awkward. “Maybe we can plan a time for—”
Maureen shook her head and pushed Connolly even closer to me. “Mrs. Kelly,” she said, and her eyes were so serious on mine. “I need this from you.”
I stared at her for a moment, trying to understand. Nothing became clear to me, though, except for one thing. Maureen was desperate. “Okay.” I nodded. “Connolly gets to spend the day with me.”
A heavy breath visibly left Maureen’s mouth. She touched Connolly on the head and then hustled in the opposite direction.
“Looks like it’s the three of us,” I said to Connolly. “Do you mind going to work with me for a while?”
We stared at each other, and it seemed like she wanted to say something, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
I stooped down, trying to get eye level with her. “The clouds are bright today,” I said, hoping she remembered our talk from the party. “I know you don’t mind coming with me. And after, we’ll do a little shopping. A girl has to have a pretty dress. Mr. Kelly’s treat.” I smiled at her and then stood, offering her my hand. I wasn’t sure if she’d take it, but after a few seconds, she put her little hand in mine and my heart filled instantly.
It sunk just as fast when a familiar ringer sounded and my mother’s face appeared on the screen of my cellphone.
“Shit,” I muttered. Since there was no time like the present, I answered it.
“Keely,” she said, like she had to make sure it was me.
“Mam,” I said.
She went on about the usual stuff as we all started walking together. After a few minutes, when we’d made it to Raff’s car, she made it to the reason she had called.
