Maggie: This is the first time they’ve sent anything to the diner, though. Everything else was at the Haven.
Grace: Did you talk to the police?
Maggie: Yeah, a nice officer came by and took my statement.
Grace: Are you okay? Do you need me to come over?
Maggie: Luke made me a milkshake and clocked me out. I’m just chilling right now.
Grace: If you need me, I’m there. Just let me know.
Maggie: Thanks, Grace. You’re the best.
Grace: Also, I have chocolate.
Maggie snapped a picture of her milkshake and sent it.
Maggie: So do I [smiley emoji]
Grace: Alright girl. Keep me posted.
Maggie laid the phone down and drank some more, when the door opened and Edith, Anna, Rosa, and Raven entered the diner. Edith noticed her first and waved. Maggie waved back, and the ladies come over to her booth.
“Hello, Maggie. Good to see you again.” Edith said. “Are you sitting by yourself?”
“I just got off work, so yeah.” Maggie shrugged. “It’s been a chocolate day.”
Edith tilted her head in concern, her long earrings swaying with the movement. “Do you mind if we sit with you?”
“Not at all.” Maggie smiled, grateful for the company to keep her out of her head.
Edith and Anna slid into her side of the six-person booth, and Raven and Rosa sat across from her.
“What’s on your heart, dear? You look…” Edith tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “Are you still carrying those stones I gave you?”
“Um…” Stones. Then Maggie remembered the black and pink stones that Edith had given her when she went into The MayTree looking for a job. “I think so?” She patted her pockets. No, wait. She’d slid them into her purse.
“They’re in my purse, actually.”
Edith tutted. “On your person would be better.”
With that, Luke exited the kitchen carrying said purse, the bright yellow bag she’d bought last summer that had cheered her up when things got bleak, and she’d thought she’d never get to leave Sean. “Good afternoon, ladies. Maggie, here’s your purse.”
“Thanks, Luke.” She blushed.
“What can I get you to drink?”
The women gave him their orders as Maggie dug through her purse for the small, secret pocket she’d stashed the rocks in.
“Mags, do you want another milkshake, sweetheart?”
She shook her head, her cheeks heating further. “Just some water, please.”
“You got it.” He winked before walking away.
Edith turned to her with both eyebrows raised. “I see the rose quartz is doing its job well.”
Maggie briefly remembered what Edith had said about the pink stone and ducked her head. The women at her table made excited, encouraging squeals.
