“Honey, around here we believe butter is a personality trait,” Mama says proudly.
Ivy giggles.
For the first time all day, the knot inside my chest loosens enough for me to breathe without feeling like someone’s squeezing my heart.
The diner noise continues to swirl around us while Ivy happily eats fries one at a time. Mama keeps pretending not to see it every time Ivy reaches for another one, which is probably the quickest way to win her over.
Alexei notices too. I can tell by the faint look in his eyes every time Ivy sneaks another fry into her mouth while trying to look innocent.
“You’re very committed to this crime,” he tells her calmly.
Ivy gasps. “I’m not committing crimes.”
“You have eaten at least seven fries already.”
“That’s not illegal.”
Mama snorts while she refills Alexei’s coffee. “Well, I like her already.”
Ivy beams at that while reaching for another fry anyway.
I sit there listening to them talk, and somehow this little booth at the Magnolia Street Diner feels warmer with Alexei and Ivy sitting with me. I find myself relaxing deeper into the vinyl seat while Ivy launches into an animated story about how Elvis tried to steal her shoelace the last time she visited the shelter.
Alexei listens while he eats, occasionally asking questions that keep her talking. There’s still restraint in him even here, even now. It lives in the way he watches every entrance automaticallyand the way his eyes move through the diner before returning to Ivy.
Mama returns and slides into the space beside me.
“So,” Mama says casually, “what exactly do you do, Alexei?”
Straight to it.
Alexei dabs his mouth with his napkin before answering. “I own a logistics and shipping company.”
Mama hums. “That sounds expensive.”
Ivy smiles widely. “It means Papa talks on the phone a lot.”
That earns a genuine laugh from me.
Alexei’s eyes slide toward me, and this time the look in them lingers.
Mama watches the two of us before leaning back against the booth with a knowing expression.
“Mhmm,” she says. “Well, at least he’s pretty to look at while he’s bein’ mysterious.”
“Mama,” I hiss under my breath.
Ivy immediately looks delighted. “Papa ispretty.”
Alexei actually coughs into his coffee.
I stare at Ivy in horror while Mama outright grins now.
“Well,” Mama says while pushing herself up from the booth, “I’m gonna go get pie before Maggie combusts right here in public.”
My entire face goes hot while Alexei looks down for a second like he’s trying not to smile. I do the only thing I can at that point and keep my mouth shut until Mama comes back carrying slices of pie.
“Oh no,” I protest weakly. “I can’t eat pie after all this food.”
