“Yeah, tonight, tomorrow—whenever you’re ready.”
“Sure. I’m ready when you are.”
“In that case, could you be my date to an engagement party tomorrow? Unless you have other plans…”
“Yes and no.”
“Huh?”
“Yes, I’d love to go, and no, I don’t have other plans.”
He thought those were the best words he’d heard all week.
* * *
“Oh, sweetie, you look so pretty!”
Dawn did a little curtsy. “Thanks, Gran. You don’t think it’s too much?”
“It’s perfect, darling. Where did you find that dress? It looks like it cost a fortune.”
Dawn winked at Annette. It had certainly cost someone a fortune at some point, but Dawn had paid only eighteen dollars for it at Goddess Fashions, a thrift store she happened to walk by a few weeks ago on her way to the grocery store.
The store had just opened, and they were offering twenty-five percent off everything in a grand opening promotion. The sales woman, who called herself Venus, was an absolute expert stylist and had helped Dawn create the perfect look. At the time, Dawn was just shopping for work clothes, but Venus had assured her the dress would come in handy one day.
“You look like Audrey Hepburn,” Annette exclaimed.
“Do you think so?” Dawn asked, feeling a bit unsure. Her look was usually more modern, and this look was definitely out of her comfort zone.
“Petite enfant, t’es bonne.”
Dawn grinned at Annette’s use of the Cajun slang. “I think you’re referring to a grandbaby.”
Annette giggled and shrugged. “It’s still the truth.” Annette had grown up in Boston, but she still on occasion used the slang she’d learned from her mother, who was from New Orleans.
Dawn smoothed her hands down the front of the deep burgundy dress. She did feel like a star in it. With a form-fitting bodice underneath a delicate lace overlay of the same color, the dress was belted at the waist and flared out in a slight pouf. It looked like the kind of dress Audrey Hepburn would have worn, and Dawn loved it. She’d managed to wrestle her spiky hair down and part it on the side, bringing out the Hepburn style even more. Her makeup was perfect. Liquid eyeliner, mascara, and cherry-red lipstick. A black satin clutch purse and black pumps rounded out her ensemble. Her entire outfit had cost less than thirty dollars, and if that wasn’t a statement to her frugality, she didn’t know what was.
“All I can say is your young man is going to do a backflip when he sees you.”
“Thank you, Gran.” Speaking of backflips, the butterflies in her stomach were doing just that. She’d already met Luca’s parents and brother, but going to a family event was a big deal. She began to feel panicked about seeing everyone in his large family.
“Honey, I’m so happy for you. I hope his family is just as nice as the ones you already met. Just remember when out in public, keep it to yourself that Luca is a police officer. This isn’t the right kind of neighborhood to be dating a cop.”
Dawn laughed. “He’s not going to be wearing his uniform on dates.” After a quick look at Annette’s you know what I mean face, she put on a more serious expression. “I know. I’m being careful.”
She didn’t tell Annette about Ice Spider confronting her on the street yesterday, asking her about her “cop friend.” She was not about to go down that road. If she did, her grandmother would insist she move to a safer neighborhood, maybe even out of town. She would not leave Annette behind. It just wasn’t up for discussion.
“I just want you to be safe, honey.”
“I know and I am. Honest.” Dawn crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped the Karma Cleaners weren’t watching. She certainly didn’t want any dings against her karma by lying to Annette.
This karma cleaning was tough business. Sometimes you had to do little bad things for the greater good. At least that’s what Dawn kept telling herself. She needed to ask Lynda more questions. Like, is a little white lie okay? Is bopping someone over the head okay, if it’s in self-defense?
In the meantime, she would keep her baton of keys with her at all times. She managed to shove it into the clutch purse along with her bank card, some cash, and her cell phone, snapping it shut at the same time as the front door bell rang.
“Let me get it,” Annette said. “You go upstairs and come down when I tell you to.”
“Gran, what are you up to?”
