Page 94 of Nocere

"What time will Alex be home?"

"I'm not sure. We don't have to save her any." I snickered at my own wickedness. "She'll have some tomorrow."

Samirah laughed heartily and it made me grin. "Good thing. I'll be there in about half an hour, okay?"

"Okay." Instead of anxious tightness, my stomach flip-flopped with delight and excitement. The fact that Sam wanted to spend time with me, not at her place but here knowing someone else could show up, told me that she wanted to simply be with me rather than just… "Thanks for checking on me."

"Of course, baby. See you soon."

"Okay. Be safe."

"I will."

We ended the call and I continued to prep more apples for the third pie with my heart a flutter. I wasn't sure what it was about Samirah's commitment to coming over excited me so, but I went with it. Fixating on her arrival pushed the drawn emotions about my mother's potential release to a lower position in my thought process.

Five minutes after the timer for the pumpkin pie binged to signal its readiness, Samirah arrived while it sat on the countertop to cool. The first apple pie in the oven took its place.

I opened the front door to see Sam, wearing a sexy pair of skinny jeans and a slim-fitting sweater, and holding up a can of whipped cream. "I come bearing gifts," she announced, lifting a grocery bag as well.

"My hero." I smiled, and felt the muscles lift my whole expression. "Hi."

"Hi, my sweet." She captured me in a kiss, pulling me to her before I even shut the door. "Mmm. You taste like cinnamon."

"I may have snuck a few tastes of the apple mixture." I grinned and waved her inside after locking up. "Get comfy."

"I plan to in your cozy little purple fairy den. I love it." She smiled when she looked around and shrugged out of her coat. I took it from her and hung it on the rack by the door.

"Do you?"

"Yes. It's like walking through your mind and heart," she said and set the bags on the counter. "So, knowing you made apple pie, I may or may not have picked up some ice cream, too."

I laughed and hugged her from behind while she unpacked the bags. I had to stand on my toes in order to gaze over her shoulder. "Yum. How much ice cream did you get, honey?"

"Three different kinds." She grinned and turned her head toward me. "Vanilla because that goes with apple pie. Chocolate in case you didn't like vanilla, and then rocky road because I like the marshmallow part." We put the cartons in the freezer together and she chuckled at the pint of chocolate on the door.

"How very well-rounded of you." I kissed her cheek and she turned to face me, her hands on my waist.

"It smells delicious in here, but I can't tell if it's you or your baking." She smiled at me and her eyes twinkled in the overhead light.

"Fake out. It's you."

"Is not." She chuckled and leaned down to place a sweet kiss between my eyebrows. "How are you feeling today?"

"Is too. Less freaked out. I have to see Anita on Saturday morning so I'll talk to her more about it. Ainsley spoke with me today. She's very kind to me."

"You're worth being kind to, Rosie." She brushed her thumb over my cheek. "Where's Anita's office?"

"Olympia."

Her brow furrowed and she tilted her head. "How do you get there?"

"Sometimes Rebecca drives me, but I don't like that. Usually a bus. Sometimes Uber." I shrugged and toyed with her hair.

"The bus must take forever."

"Sometimes."

"Do you have a license?"

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