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“But it sounds so much more fun that way.”
As the doors close and lock me, Aubree, and Mia in—and Fifi out—I look down at Mia and smile. “Fifi gets a little too serious for her own good sometimes, so we call her that to cheer her up.”
“I like that name.”
She studies her feet and practices the name under her breath, while on her other side, Aubree giggles into her hand.
“I like Fifi’s shirt.” Mia’s wide eyes dance with glee—not unlike her mother’s back in her heyday, I’m sure. “She’s very pretty.”
“Uh-huh. She sure is. We’re gonna go into my office now and get your monkey, then me and Aubree will take you to daycare, okay? We’re already a little bit late.” I grit my teeth, faux apologetic for keeping her longer than I was supposed to. “But you’ve had fun, right? Was your morning nice?”
“Uh-huh! And when you pick me up this afternoon, you’re gonna bring me a hotdog on a stick?”
Shaking my head, I lead her off the elevator when the doors open, only to guide her to the left and block her view as Doctor Kirk wheels his newest patient toward his autopsy room.
“Can you see the city through my windows?” I point toward my office and keep her eyes away from the dead person in a black bag. “I can see the whole city from up here.”
“Yuh-huh!” She dashes ahead of Aubree and me, fast on her feet when I release her hand. Then she slams sticky hands to the glass door and shoves it open. “Can you see our apartment from up here?”
“Uh…” I follow her in and across to the windows as she smooshes her nose to the glass. Stopping just a foot to her right, I peer to the left and shake my head when I can’t see shit but a foggy morning and a million identical buildings. “I can’t tell which one is yours. Can you?”
“I don’t know where Daddy’s is.” She accepts her toy when Aubree offers it, tucks it under her arm without pause, then continues scouring the city. “It’s hard for me to ‘member.”
“Aw, well, that’s okay.” I press my cheek to the pane and point to the left. “The police station is that way. That’s where Daddy and Uncle Arch spend lots of their time. And that way,” I point right, “that’s the way to my apartment. And do you know Tim?”
“Uncle Tim!” Bouncing on her feet, she hugs the stuffed monkey like she’s hugging the man himself. “He’s very nice!”
Unable to hold it in, Aubree scoffs.
“His bar is that way too,” I cut in before my right-hand woman finds momentum and starts bitching again. “He’s my next-door neighbor. That’s actually how I met your Uncle Archer.”Sort of.“I moved in next door, then we had that big snowstorm in December and I needed to find somewhere that would make me dinner. So I went to the bar and ordered a burger.”
Looking down at the girl and forgoing the part of the story where I was fake-engaged to Tim and, less than an hour later, warming Archer’s sheets, I smile and slide my fingers into the back of her hair. “Tim made me dinner, and Archer asked to date me.”
Sort of.
“Are you and Uncle Archer going to get married?”
Just a couple of hours ago, she wondered if I would marry Fletch; now it’s Arch’s turn. But when my body freezes and Idon’tinstantly say no, Aubree swings around with wide eyes.
“Uh—”
“Shut. Up!” Aubree squeaks the words across the top of the girl. “You’re getting married?”
“Come on, Moo.” I snag my phone and keys and lead Mia across my office. Because I’m a coward and can’t stand up under my friend’s glare. “Time for daycare!”
“Mayet!” Aubree sprints across the office to follow. “You didn’t say no!”
“I didn’t say yes either.” Scowling, I keep my head down and my lips flat.
Back into the elevator. Down nine floors. Through the lobby and out the revolving doors. Aubree bounces with unspoken demands as we move onto the street and head toward the precinct.
A couple of blocks in the cool wind. Into the police station. Follow the halls until we find the nursery. Then, although I know Aubree is minutes from bursting and I wish I could hold on to Mia for a while longer, if only because she’s insulation against my friend’s torrent of incoming words, I sign the girl in and hand her over after a fast hug and a promise to source more deep-fried hotdogs by the day’s end.
“HE ASKED YOU TO MARRY HIM?” The moment we step onto the sidewalk again, Aubree lets it rip. She grabs my arms and holds me too close, and while she speaks—shouts—her pink-streaked hair flips into her face. “Archer Malone is ready to marry? Are you freakin’ serious?”
“You will lower your voice.” Peeling one of her hands off me, I glance to my other arm and peel the second away. “You will not demand answers about my private life, particularly whenIhave not yet come to terms with my private life. And you especially will not announce my private life for all of Copeland City to hear.” I look to my right and fake a smile for the handful of cops who pass us.
Throwing Aubree’s hand away, I glare for a moment, then I turn on my heels and head back toward the George Stanley. “I’m certain you have work to do, Doctor Emeri.”
