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“Nope.” Saylor hugs the stuffed walrus she brought with her.
She gave Stevie a walrus charm that she’s since placed on a silver chain around her neck. It’s a perfect complement to the bracelet that her parents gifted her with that she rarely takes off.
“It’ll be me when I’m thirty.” Stevie shrugs. “I put it in my life plan so I need to follow it through.”
“Okay.” Saylor nods. “I’ll say that about a boy when I’m thirty.”
I scratch the back of my neck and look at my cousin. “How is Berk?”
That’s a very roundabout way of asking if he mentioned Gaines. I’m pacing myself, though. I can ask about Berk’s cousin after I test the waters with a few more questions about Astrid’s husband.
“This is funny.” She looks toward where Penny is sitting next to the kitchen island.
“What’s funny?” I ask.
“Daxton and his folks are at Atlas 22, too.”
At least I know where to find Dr. Morgan. That’s if I wanted to find him. I don’t. I more interested in the fact that he’s not home.
“They’re having champagne.” Astrid goes on, “Berk said they haven’t ordered dinner yet so I don’t think Daddy will be home to read you a story.”
Stevie glances at the clock on the kitchen wall. “Bedtime is soon.”
Mine isn’t. I still have plenty of things planned for tonight, including breaking and entering, although I suppose it’s not classified as that when you have the key code to the apartment you want to enter.
“Is everyone still full from dinner?” Astrid asks the room.
She prepared spaghetti sauce with meatballs, and garlic toast. A garden salad accompanied it and I’m not sure how she managed it but the carrots were cut into different shapes that resembled bunny ears and hearts.
“I’m stuffed.” Saylor taps her stomach beneath the cute pink top she’s wearing. “What about you, Stevie?”
Stevie smiles. “I’m full to here.”
She cuts a line across her forehead with her hand.
That sends Saylor into a giggle fit.
“I think I need to get someone back to her brother’s apartment so she can shut her eyes.” Penny stands. “Dinner was awesome, Astrid. Thank you for doing this.”
Astrid rounds the island to take Penny in her arms. “Thank you for starting work next week. I had no idea Castle would want to leave that soon.”
“I’m so happy to do that.” Penny looks my way. “Do you want to share an Uber, Els? We can drop you off first.”
“I need to make a stop before I go home.” I move to stand, but a sudden burst of dizziness hits me. It sends me back to my chair.
I barely ate dinner. It’s been the story of my life since Gaines said goodbye to me that day in his apartment. I felt the shift in him before he walked away, and my world has felt off its axis since then.
“I’ll get you a glass of water.” Astrid rushes toward the sink.
I try to stand again with greater success. “I’m fine. All knitting, and no eating is not a great combination.”
“It’s not,” Penny agrees. “Promise me that once you run your errand, you’ll go straight home to bed.”
I raise my hand as though I’m taking a vow. “I promise.”
The girls say goodbye to each other with hugs, I share one with everyone in the room, and grab my tote to take off.
Astrid stops me just as I’m about to leave the room. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
