Francesca’s gaze swept to Lucia.
“I may have suggested something similar a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, cool. Great minds and all, right?” Jules said.
Francesca made a noncommittal noise and drank her coffee.
“It does seem like a shame to tear something down that could be used for good,” Penelope said.
“You, too, huh?” Francesca asked. “It’s not as simple as turning the ship around. There are legal and reputational risks.”
Penelope nodded. “True, but the idea is still worthwhile.”
“See? Even Blackwell agrees.” Skye shot Penelope a half smile. “Anyway, I’m starving. Can we move this along to the dining room?”
“You’re the worst,” Lucia mumbled.
Skye only shrugged.
“All right, let’s go then,” Francesca said.
“Did you cook all these dishes?” Penelope asked, her eyes wide when Francesca guided them to the serving table that held a variety of dishes: eggplant involtini stuffed with ricotta and herbs, grilled sea bass with lemon and capers; handmade pappardelle with wild mushroom ragù; roasted fennel and citrus salad; focaccia with rosemary and sea salt; and, for dessert, a pear and gorgonzola tart.
The aromas mingled: bright citrus, savory herbs, the earthy richness of mushrooms, all comforting and quietly celebratory.
Francesca arched a brow. “I had help. I’m dedicated, not a martyr. Although these are some of my favorite dishes growing up.”
The dinner flowed by in an amiable atmosphere, filled with banter about the past from this little misfit family—one that had grown closer to Penelope than she’d ever admit—as well as talk of a future built around a benevolentandlegal Collective.
“Jules could even create a website, something like, ethicalbreakins.org—has a ring to it, no?”
“I’ll definitely need health insurance if we’re going legit,” Jules said.
“Why is everyone acting like this is a done deal?” Francesca asked.
“It makes sense and is an efficient use of resources, and we all know you’re a big fan of that,” Lucia said. “Besides, doing nothing will get boring. You need another challenge.”
“I quite enjoy doing nothing right now.”
“I’d not call dismantling the Collective nothing,” Lucia said.
“There’s that, yes. It is…tedious. But it’s also administrative for the most part. Less likely to get my heart pounding.”
“Yes, I believe that such a respite is needed and well deserved. But too much of it? That’s stagnation. Life abhors homeostasis,” Lucia said.
Penelope gave her a wry look. “I thought life despises chaos?”
“I think you’re both quoting the wrong philosopher,” Jules said, waving her fork.
“Nature abhors a vacuum,” Francesca said.
“Yes, that rings a bell.” Lucia scrunched up her brows. “But I stand by my version. Life resists stillness. It’s all about change and disruption.”
“I’d still prefer a little less chaos,” Penelope said.
“I’m with your girlfriend for now,” Francesca said. “Give me a bit of calm before I have to jump into the next adventure, but I will pause my efforts to demolish the Collective until we’ve decided what to do.”
“We?” Lucia asked.
