The look Florence gave her was withering. “And fall in love with a nice young man who already has a wife at home?”
“They’re not all like that,” Vivian protested.
“I don’t see you finding anyone to marry.”
“That’s because I’m not looking,” Vivian said. “If you want something different, Flo, you have to make it happen.”
“Working six days a week for the pittance Miss Ethel pays doesn’t leave much room for something different. Right now it’s all I can manage to keep track of you and not lose my job.” Florence reached out and laid a gentle hand on Vivian’s cheek, just for a moment. Vivian stilled, surprised by the touch, and Florence sighed as she let her hand fall away. “Speaking of Miss Ethel, you can’t do any sewing with that hand, can you?”
Vivian glanced down at her bandaged palm, a slow feeling of panic beginning to spread through her chest. She had been so distracted by the raid and getting bailed out, knowing all the while that if she managedto get home there was Florence to face, that she hadn’t thought ahead to what would happen when she went to work that morning. “Oh no.”
Florence shook her head. “I didn’t think so. And you look a mess, you know.”
“That’s so kind of you to say,” Vivian snapped, the panicked feeling spreading to her stomach.
“I’m not the one who got thrown in jail, so don’t blame me for your bad choices.” Florence sighed. “Stay home today and get some rest. I’ll tell Miss Ethel that you had to help at church or something, she’ll be more likely to excuse that than if I say you’re sick.”
“Breaking the eighth commandment?” Vivian murmured, unable to resist the taunt.
Florence, in the middle of gathering up a lunch for herself, gave her a look that was distinctly unamused. “Would you prefer I tell her you spent the night in jail?”
“No.” Vivian sighed. “I am sorry, Florence.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“I am, really. And I’m not going out again tonight,” said Vivian, shuddering. “Living through one raid was enough for me.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Florence said softly.
“Really, Flo. This time even I need a break.”
Florence nodded. “I’m glad, then. And…” She hesitated. “It’ll be nice to spend some time together. I’ll be home for dinner. Try to stay out of trouble until then.”
Vivian was startled out of sleep by the sound of knocking, a friendly, oddly rhythmic rapping that didn’t sound like any of their neighbors. Still half-asleep and too groggy to care what she looked like, she pulled Florence’s wrapper around herself and hurried to the front door.
Danny’s hand was half-raised to knock a second time when sheswung the door open, and he smiled at her as he lowered it. “Hey there, sleeping beauty. Made up for last night yet?”
“What time is it?” Vivian asked, rubbing her eyes and squinting toward one of the hall windows, where the bright sun was nearly blinding.
“Little after four o’clock. Glad to see you got home safe. Is Leo in there?”
Vivian rolled her eyes at him. “Absolutely not. Haven’t seen him since we all said good-bye this morning. And I certainly never told him where I live,” she said, eyeing him in surprise. Before that morning, she and Danny had never seen each other outside the Nightingale. “I don’t think I ever told you where I live, either.”
Danny shrugged, then crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the doorjamb. “Hux knows things.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. “Is she the reason you’re here?”
“Well, the immediate reason I’m here is that you don’t have a telephone,” Danny said, smirking at her impatient expression. “But… yes, Hux sent me.”
“Why?”
His brows lifted. “You can’t guess?”
Vivian grimaced. “Did she tell you about our conversation this morning?” she asked.
He didn’t answer the question, instead holding out a small brown-paper parcel. “She wanted me to give you this.”
Vivian hesitated, but her curiosity won out before she could talk herself out of it. There was a note tucked into the string.
