Page 102 of Passions in Death
That seemed to be the theme of the day, Eve decided as she caught the flying blond rocket.
“Hi, hi, hi!” Bella beamed and gave Eve an enthusiastic and sloppy kiss.
“I’ve got this, Peabody.” Roarke lifted a box from the trunk.
“Thanks. You can just take it around to our side.”
“We’ll drop them off, take a look at the comm system,” McNab told her. “We’ll be lightning,” he said to Eve.
She carted the now babbling Bella to the porch.
“I know you can’t stay—bummer.” She embraced Eve, sandwiching both the kid and the one yet to come between them. “But I made lemonade! I mean made-made from the recipe Summerset gave me. Who knew? And I totally, abso didn’t screw it up, did I, moonpie?”
“It’s delicious.”
The pitcher, glasses, an ice bucket sat on a tray on a table.
“Sounds good.”
“Das pray!”
Eve could only stare. “She wants me to pray? For what?”
“Bella.” Mavis laughed as Leonardo poured out lemonade. “Pl-pl-pl.”
“Pl-pl-pl-ay. Das play.”
“Can’t do that, either.” Even if she knew how. “I have to go to work in a minute.”
“Aww.”
“Maybe just come inside a minute. See what you think. Let’s show Dallas, baby girl of mine.”
“See, see!” Bella scrambled down, and when Mavis opened the door, shot inside.
Lemonade in hand, Eve followed.
In the entrance the walls were… what were they? Eve wondered. Orange. But not like an actual orange or a pumpkin, but a deeper, maybe a softer tone that somehow worked against the thick, dark millwork.
Overhead, a many-armed light hung from a ceiling medallion. Most of the floor lay under some sort of protective paper, but what she could see gleamed.
“I love the light!”
Mavis grinned at Peabody. “I know! They just got it up today. They’re nearly done in here.”
The entrance gave way to the living area, walls the same color, evening sun still streaming in the windows. The fireplace, with its thick, carved frame, looked old, important. For the built-ins that flanked it, she’d chosen green—deep and soft again.
“I’ve got to have color. Just have to have it.”
“I see that. And it works.”
Rather than detracting from the old and important, the colors just enhanced that focus.
“It feels like home.” Leonardo looked around with an expression of utter contentment. “Even without furniture, it’s already home.”
Eve remembered Peabody had said exactly the same.
“Roarke said we can start moving in furniture next week, in here for sure, which is beyond mag. And over in the parlor or sitting room. Over here.”
