“Yes, and it’s delicious, if I do say so myself.”
She grabbed a fork from the kitchenette and sank it into the slice of cake. “How’s Livy doing?”
“She amazes me with her resilience,” I said, sitting at the room’s small table. “I think our little birthday party was good for her.”
Jemma sat across from me and scooped up another forkful of cake. “What about you? Are you still hanging in there?”
“I’m doing okay,” I said. “It helps that I’ve had some major distractions.”
I proceeded to tell her about the visit to the pawnshop.
Jemma laughed so hard that she got me laughing too.
“I needed to hear that story as much as I needed this cake,” she said after I wrapped up the tale. “Thank you, Em.”
“I’m glad the ordeal was good for something.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “But I’m still mad at you for ditching me at the gym the other day.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jemma said, her brown eyes full of remorse. “It was Cindy Lafayette who texted with a hair emergency. She’s one of my best tippers, so how could I refuse her plea for help?” She whipped a crisp bill out of her pocket and waved it in front of my face. “See?”
I grabbed her hand so I could read the number on the bill. “She gave you a hundred bucks as atip?”
“Yep.” Jemma grinned like the cat that got the canary. “And because I’m super-duper sorry that I abandoned you—”
“In a torture chamber with a murder suspect,” I cut in to remind her.
“I’m spending this tip money on dinner for you, me, and Livy,” she finished.
I perked up a little at that. “Really?”
“Of course. You’re my bestie, and Livy’s my favorite kid in the whole world. And I really,reallydon’t want you to be mad at me.”
I unfolded my arms. “Oh, you know I can’t stay mad at you for long.”
She threw her arms around me. “Thank you! And I’m so sorry.”
I gave her a squeeze in return. “You’re forgiven.”
“Now,” Jemma said as she released me, “let’s get out of here.”
“You’re done for the day?” I asked with surprise.
“So done, thanks to a cancellation.” She handed the plastic container back to me, empty now except for a few smears of chocolate frosting. “I’ll come with you to pick up Livy.”
We rode the subway to the Mirage, where I dropped off the empty container before we walked over to Livy’s school.
“Now you can update me on your investigation,” she said on the way, “and whatever happened with Bodie.”
I’d refused to talk about either subject while on the train with strangers all around us. Out here on the street, we had at least a semblance of privacy.
After theHALP!text I’d sent her, I’d told her only that an encounter with Bodie had prompted it and that I’d give her the details in person.
I’d just started in on that story when we reached the school. The bell rang, and the doors burst open, spilling children out onto the playground. Livy spotted Jemma and me and came running our way, her two braids flying out behind her.
She latched on to me first, squeezing me around my waist with an excited, “Auntie Em!” Then she tackle-hugged Jemma. “Hi, Jemma!”
My best friend hugged her back. “Hi, sweetie pie. Guess what the three of us are doing this evening.”
“What? What?” Livy bounced up and down, jostling her backpack.
