“I’m always equally excited to see both of you.”
“How come you never show it?” Daisy winked at Lily, enjoying watching their mom get more flustered.
“Enough.” Their mom pointed at Daisy threateningly with her wooden spoon. “I’m still waiting for an answer, Lily.”
“I’m fine, the house is fine, and work is—”
“—fine?” Daisy said, and Lily elbowed her in the side.
“Work is great, I’m enjoying it.”
“Good. Your colleagues are nice?”
Lily thought of Eva’s cold indifference and was glad she was the exception and not the norm. “Most of them. I think I’m going to fit in well there.”
“You look happy,” Daisy said, once their mom had turned away to tend to the food.
“Yeah, I am.” Lily finally felt like she was where she belonged, fulfilled, professionally, in a way she hadn’t before. “How are you, anyway?”
“I’d be better if this one”—she poked Emma’s nose—“would sleep through the night. But otherwise, I’m good. I joined a mommie’s group so I can have some adult conversation during the day. Would you mind holding her for a sec? I need to pee.”
“Sure.” Emma was placed carefully into her arms. She stared at Lily with her fist in her mouth. “What’s for dinner, Mom?”
“Chicken casserole. It’ll be ready when your father gets home, which should be any minute.”
“Is the garage still doing okay?” Neither Lily nor Daisy had ever had a penchant for the family business, but she had fond memories of helping out at the weekends.
“Business is booming.”
Daisy rejoined them and set the table. “Have you told Lily about the new mechanic yet? She’s hot.”
“After what happened the last time you tried to set me up, I think I’ll keep my distance.”
“Okay, that was an anomaly. Izzy seemed perfectly normal—how were we supposed to know she was a stalker?” Daisy said, and Lily shook her head. “Anyway, that was years ago. My matchmaking skills have improved.”
“Have they?”
“Yes. I’ve set up two of my friends in the last few months.”
“And neither of them has been murdered yet?”
Daisy smacked her on the back of the head.
“Ow! I’m holding your daughter here, you know, you should be more careful.”
“Please, she’s fine. Aren’t you, my little angel?” Daisy leaned in and blew a raspberry against Emma’s cheek. “Your auntie Lily wouldn’t dare drop you. I’d never let her hear the end of it. And we’ve gotten off-track—we were talking about the hot mechanic.”
“No, you were talking about the hot mechanic, and I was—”
Daisy spoke right over her. “She’s called Anna. She’s thirty. I know you like older women—”
“Two years is hardly an older woman, Daisy.”
“Still.”
“I don’t need a date.” Lily still felt raw from what had happened with Sophie. There was no way she was ready to put herself back out there yet.
“I beg to differ. You know what they say about the best way to get over someone.” Daisy wiggled her eyebrows, and Lily shook her head.
