“Javier said to tell you that Carlos’s favorite color is blue.”
Eliana chuckled.
“Should I know what that means?”
Eliana smiled.
Javier, Carlos’s dad, had been staying with him and visiting Luci every day. Eventually, he would take her back to Salt Lake City with him, so she could stay at home while she completed the rest of her recovery. Sure, she wouldn’t ever be completely the same vibrant woman she had been, but that didn’t mean they had lost her.
They might never know the full extent of her experience, but they had her back, and that was what mattered.
“Blue?” Dad asked.
“I went to see Luci, and her dad was there,” Eliana explained. “I was showing her dresses for my date with Carlos. She was helping me choose what to wear.”
“Ah.” Dad scratched his jaw. “Am I supposed to be happy about this?”
“Would you rather it was someone else?”
He nodded. “Good point.” After a beat, he said, “Where is he taking you?”
“Chateau Brionne. Seven o’clock.”
“Is he picking you up? Don’t tell me you’re supposed tomeet him there.” Her dad looked ready to start boiling.
Eliana smiled. “Yes, he’s picking me up in his truck. Even though my new place is in the complete opposite direction from his house and the restaurant.”
“Good.”
Eliana sighed, watching her mom walk toward them and wondering if she would ever be as confident in who she was as Kenna Banbury. Then again, if she wanted to be, she had to realize that it might only come after a lifetime of solving crime. After one brush with an investigation, Eliana thought she might be good here and not out on her own without even Carlos for backup. Especially with her new role at the Shrine.
Tony had recovered from his gunshot wound enough to be transported home. After a long conversation with her parents, he’d headed back to Arkansas, leaving her in place as the head of security.
The one person with access to the vault.
“Everything good, honey?” Her mom kissed her cheek and gave her a hug.
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Dad told her, “In a couple of days we’re going to head to Milwaukee and see Maizie and her family, then we’ll be going back home.”
She’d known this was coming, but it was still hard to hear. “Having you in Chicago has been amazing.” Eliana pulled them both close in a hug. “Really amazing.”
“But you’ll come visit the first chance you get?” he asked.
Eliana nodded. “Carlos wants to visit his dad and his sister regularly, and I’ll want to come see you guys. Especially now that you’re on the all-new Board of Governors. Thehumanboard.”
“Mmm,” Mom said. “I told Sylvia what I thought about that.” She shook her head. “That system should’ve been phased out years ago.”
“I know.” Eliana nodded. “She said you gave her an earful.”
Her dad chuckled.
Eliana glanced around the lobby. “A lot of people died in here. Some I knew, and others I’d never met.”
“But you took care of business, and no one else got control of the Board.” Mom nodded. “And we didn’t lose any family.”
“Did Sylvia ask you guys to speak at the Symposium in October?”
