Page 120 of Safe and Sound

“Was she at least baptized?”

“Yes, she was in the Greek Orthodox Church.”

I shrugged. “Church is church. I’m glad to know she’s been baptized.” Grinning at Piper, I said, “I bet your cousin Nick is your godfather.”

She grinned back at me through a mouth of pizza. “Uh-huh.”

“And Lexie or Dani is your godmother?”

As Ava handed Piper a napkin, she said, “They’re both her godmothers.”

“Excellent choices.”

“You knows Nicky and Dani and Lexie?” Piper questioned.

“I do.”

“Nicky has a doggie named Athena.”

“Is she a big dog or a little dog?”

“Wittle.” Piper giggled. “He wets me put on her sweaters.”

“Are they pink?”

Piper nodded. “And sparkwy.”

“That’s awesome.”

“Mommy said I can has a kitten.”

“Is that right?”

“Mm, hmm. We’s gonna pick it out tomorrow.” Piper turned to Ava. “Wight, Mommy?”

“We’ll have to see.”

Piper jabbed her tiny index finger at Ava. “You pwomised.”

Ava sighed as she rubbed her forehead. “I know I did. It’s just there’s been a lot going on.”

I realized what I was about to do was playing extremely dirty, but Ava hadn’t left me much choice when it came to being with my daughter. “Why don’t we let Mommy have a break, and you and I can go to the shelter right when it opens and get your kitten?”

If looks could kill, the one Ava shot me would’ve had me writhing on the floor. On the other hand, Piper clapped her hands gleefully. “Yes, yes, yes!” she screeched.

Turning to Piper, Ava said, “Why don’t you go pick out the first game you want to play?”

“But I’s not finished and you says I has to finish,” Piper protested.

“It’s okay. Just this once.”

Although I could easily see why Ava was sending Piper off, I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight, even if Thomas would have an eye on her. When I started to get out of the booth, Ava grabbed my arm. “I want to talk to you.”

“Well, there’s no way in hell I’m letting my daughter go around this place without supervision.”

Once again, Ava shot me a positively lethal look. “Are you insinuating I don’t watch my child?”

“Not at all. You’re used to this. It’s all new and frightening as hell to me to think of what could happen to her if I don’t stay at her side.”

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