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"Yeah, yeah, I know, you sound just like Nan-" I frowned. His wording had tickled a memory. "Oh, I do have some info for you. Cedric was meeting with Nanette."
Jerome had been straightening his sleeve, but his head jerked toward me at the mention of the archdemoness's name. "Nanette?" The word was carefully enunciated, icy in its tone.
I relayed what I knew. Jerome's face grew dark as I spoke. Whatever his thoughts on the new development were, however, he didn't share them with me. "Looks like you might be doing your job after all." He paused. "But why are you back?"
"There's nothing to do until Saturday. Cedric sent me home." I held my breath, waiting for him to blow up, but it didn't come.
"Well, seeing as you aren't being too much of a bitch for a change, I suppose that's okay." By that wording, I was apparently still being kind of a bitch.
Jerome vanished.
Aubrey immediately came out from behind the couch, giving me the censuring look cats always give owners who have been away for a while. I knelt down and scratched her chin. She was solid white with a few black specks on her forehead, often giving the impression that she couldn't keep her head clean.
"Yeah, I know," I told her. "Believe me, I don't want to go back there either."
Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was dinnertime. Too early to see the vampires quite yet, particularly since the days were getting longer. I'd have to wait until after sunset to get their version of the bloodsucking showdown. I gave Aubrey a few more conciliatory pats and then straightened up to call Dante. He didn't answer, and I wondered if he actually had a customer for a change. When not concocting vile spells, he made his living giving fake Tarot and palm readings. I left a message, telling him I was back.
With time on my hands, I started fretting about Emerald City. I knew the bookstore really could function without me, but the motherly instinct kicked in nonetheless. And since I did have the time, I decided to go over and check on things.
As expected, all was well. It was almost seven, and people on their way home from work were stopping in to pick up things. Business was steady but not crazy.
"Georgina! You're back."
I'd been watching the registers from a distance and turned to see Maddie standing behind me, lugging a cardboard display for a new book coming out tomorrow. I smiled. No matter how hard things had been for me with her and Seth, there was something about her bright, open personality that could lighten dark moods.
"For a while. I just wanted to check on things."
She grinned back. "That's just like you. Get time off, and come back to work. How are things? Still crazy?"
I shrugged. "Yeah, a little. But it's nothing I can't manage. I'm hoping it'll improve soon."
"Is it something that might improve with a drink?" She wore a mischievous look, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Only if I'm drinking alone. You're still here for a couple more hours."
"Nope. I had to come in early to cover someone, so Janice is going to close."
It was always nice if a manager could close, but Janice was certainly competent enough. I hesitated. I'd been avoiding Maddie since Christmas, but before Seth, I'd always really liked her a lot. We'd had a lot of good times together, and our personalities clicked well. Seth wasn't here now, and a drink suddenly seemed like an even better way to pass the time than doing managerial things when I wasn't actually required to do them.
"Okay."
She finished up, and about fifteen minutes later, we stepped outside. I got a cigarette out automatically, then paused. "Do you mind?"
"Nah. I don't like them, but it's okay. Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know." I reached for my lighter, remembered it was out, and pulled out the matches instead. I ran my fingers over its cover and frowned. "You want to go to Mark's Mad Martini Bar?"
Mark's was at the top of Queen Anne Hill, making for a rather steep hike. Living around here, I did it fairly regularly, but Maddie was breathing hard when we reached the bar.
"Man," she said. "I need to go to the gym more."
I held the door open for her. "Do this every day, and you won't need to."
"I think I need a little more than that." Her weight was a continual source of worry for her. "I think I need to pick up some weird sport. You want to start playing squash with me?"
"Why squash?"
"I don't know. Never tried it. Figured I should."
Along with the other changes in her life, Maddie had recently adopted an attitude of getting out there and trying new things. Before my recent funk, I'd had kind of a similar view. Faced with centuries of existence, I'd found experimenting with new activities was a great distraction. There was always something new to learn in the world.
Mark's was dimly lit, done in matte black décor. I flipped through the expansive drink menu, which upheld the restaurant's name. When the waiter came around, I ordered a martini called First Blush: white chocolate liqueur, Chambord, and vodka. The menu called for Stoli, but I asked for Grey Goose.
"You ever considered dancing?" I asked Maddie. "It can be a good workout. You're less likely to get hit in the head too."
Maddie had ordered Sing the Blues: Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, and Ketel One. Her face lit up.
"I've always wanted to. Doug said you used to teach swing at the bookstore."
"Yeah, I did some group lessons last fall. My friend Cody helped me." A pleasant wave of nostalgia swept me as I recalled those days. Things had been simpler, and I'd had a lot of fun teaching my friends and co-workers while doing one of my favorite activities.
"I wish I'd been there," she said wistfully. "I'm kind of uncoordinated, but you know...if I don't try, how will I learn?"
"Maddie, you should be doing motivational speaking."
She laughed. "I don't know about that. But I'd do dance lessons if you ever taught again. Hint, hint."
The waiter returned with our drinks. I nearly died when I tasted mine. It was an 80 proof, raspberry dream. "I don't know. The staff pretty much learned all they could with swing."
"Then teach something else. Doug says you know every kind of dance in the world. I'd help you organize it."
"Maybe I'll do salsa or something," I told her, not sure if I meant it. "When all this drama's over."
"Is there anything I can do to help? You know that I'm here if you need something."
The earnestness and compassion on her face made a lump form in my throat. I'd spent the last few months hating her, but her friendship and faith in me had never faltered. Suddenly feeling guilty, I glanced away from her eyes.
"Nah, don't worry. I'll deal with it." Silence fell, silence that bothered me immensely. I felt a need to give something back to her for her kindness. My thoughts from a few nights ago about moving flashed into my head. I glanced back up. "Maybe you can help me find a new place, though."
As I'd hoped, her face grew eager at the proposal. "Really? You're going to move?"
"I don't know for sure. Just thought it might be time for a change."
Maddie became even more excited. "What are you looking for?"
"Not sure about that either," I admitted. "The only thing I'm sure of is that I want to try something outside of Queen Anne."
"Okay, that's a good start. How big? New construction or historic? Do you want to keep renting? The condo market's flooded, you know. Great time to buy."
I tried to keep a straight face but couldn't. "Were you a real estate agent in another life?"
"No! I just think it's exciting, that's all. I want to help."
"Okay. I could rent or buy. It would depend on the place."
"What's your price range? If you don't mind me asking?"
I hesitated, wondering if I should let on to the truth about my finances. I decided it didn't matter. "Well...let's put it this way. I've got a lot of savings."
"Fair enough." Despite the rapid rate she was drinking, there was a sharp, businesslike air to her. "You want a similar kind of neighborhood? Shops? Restaurants?"
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that."
"Anything else?"
"I told you, I haven't thought much about it."
She sighed in frustration. "You've gotta help me out here. Anything you've been wanting for a long time? Something you've missed?"
