Page 66 of Out of Sight

Yorwell paused. “There are still some left.”

“Ice cream as well?”

The orc had a bowl that was nearly empty. “Oops.”

The orc moved his hand, and a gallon of ice cream appeared. “There, my lady. Acceptable?”

“I have to try it. I don’t judge on looks.” She scowled at him.

Ted cackled. “Still looking into souls, Lucia?”

“Sure. Whatever you call it.” She was looking around at the cake and found one with chocolate and cherries. She yanked open the ice cream and inhaled. It was good. Creamy and vanilla in the scent.

She got a few scoops and perched on a tall chair next to the counter. “Ladies, have at it. Push them out of the way if necessary. They can take it.”

Ted smiled and helped herself. Olyna waited and asked, “Lucia, may I tell Anya about the circumstances?”

“You already did. Your phone was wide open while I was working on you. I heard Grandma holding a hand over her mouth and trying not to sob.”

Olyna smiled weakly. “Cellphones.”

Lucia nodded. “Now you are getting it.”

Ted chuckled. “She finally has a physical manifestation of the power she had all along.”

Lucia smiled and looked toward Yorwell. “I am also aware that she was not the only one on that call.”

He smiled. “I did not want you to have to repeat the tale.”

She looked at him and kicked her feet. “So you know how to throw a party.”

He smiled. “I know how to order food. I am not an accomplished host.”

Olyna said, “Lucia knows all of the components to a large party. She can help.” Olyna checked her nails and smiled. “I may try and lure her to one of my salons.”

Lucia continued to eat her ice cream. “I will tell you respectfully to get bent. Working on bitchy socialites who can’t sit still was only useful when I was paying my way through school. I don’t miss being hit in the face and having an auntie laugh it off.”

Olyna blinked. “What?”

“Oh, yeah, hitting the mouse was a sport. They tried to goad me into a response so they could save money on their nails. Once I learned their game, I just took it, saved every penny, and quit as soon as I could. Only my regulars missed me, but when the curse activated, they were confused at the photos on their phones from past amazing nail art. They couldn’t remember where they got it, and it caused some tension.”

She swirled the ice cream in her bowl.

Olyna blinked. “You worked at Stellar.”

Lucia smiled. “I did. And at the dress shop. I got paid half as much as other family, but I worked a lot, and it all added up.”

Ted looked at her little robots. “You do amazing work.”

“I am aware. But now, it will be a hobby for friends instead of an obligation for women who don’t want to pay for it.”

Ted smiled. “If I was to pay for this, how much would it cost?”

“Those little nubbins? Two fifty for the design and eight hundred for the enchantment. Auntie’s repairs would have been fifty.”

Ted blinked. “Wow. How long will these guys last?”

Lucia ate some more ice cream. “Up to you. If you want them removed, they can be removed. If you want to keep the little guys, you can have a pouch or case made, and you can summon them from there. Either way, you will still need a fill-in a few weeks.”