They strolled over to the refreshment table and perused the goodies. Dawn chose a double chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache on top, and Lynda chose a white cupcake with buttercream icing and gold sprinkles.
“Matches my outfit.” She smiled. “Okay, let’s go somewhere quiet where we can chat.”
They walked back to Lynda’s office and sat across from each other in the overstuffed comfy chairs.
Dawn bit into her cupcake and closed her eyes in delight. “Oh. That is good.”
“This one’s heaven,” Lynda said as she licked her finger.
“Can I take a few home with me for Luca and his family?”
“Of course, sweetie. We’ll pack up a box for you.”
“Thanks, LC.”
Lynda nodded and placed the rest of her cupcake back on her plate. Wiping her fingers on a napkin, she took a deep breath. “I have something to tell you.”
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”
“Well, you see, it’s about your karma.”
“Shit.”
Lynda stood up, walked over to her desk, and lifted a file folder, then returned to her chair. She flipped open the folder, sorted through some papers, and cleared her throat. “I’m afraid we won’t be needing you to come in anymore.”
“What? What does that mean? Did I do something wrong? Rescuing Mandy was the right thing, wasn’t it? Should I have waited for the police?”
“No. You saved her. That was the most important thing and what needed to happen.”
“So having sex with Luca ruined my karma? You said sex was okay.”
“I said it was your decision to make.”
“So having sex with Luca ruined my karma?”
Lynda blew out a breath. “No, silly.”
“No?” Dawn groaned in frustration. “But I can’t think of anything else… What does that mean?”
“That means that you can have as much sex with Luca as you want. It makes no difference to your karma.”
“So I’m okay?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“So I’m not okay?” Dawn was so agitated, she stood up and started pacing. “You know, I’ve been working really hard these past few weeks. Like, really hard. And yet here you are, telling me that my karma is still fucked.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then what are you trying to tell me?”
“If you would just stop pacing and sit down, I will tell you everything.”
Dawn flung up her hands. “Okay, okay.” She plopped back down on her chair and slouched with her arms crossed over her chest. “What do you want to tell me?”
Lynda laced her fingers together, placed them on her knees, and cleared her throat. “Dawn Forest, I hereby declare that your karma is officially clean!”
Dawn’s jaw dropped. She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t believe it. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
