Page 51 of Spindrift

“Yourgreenhouse must be nice in the winter.”

“Itis. Come on in for a second and I’ll grab you a glass of water, and then we canget you some plants.”

“Yousure?” Emilia glanced at Nell.

“I’llput the dogs out back. She can meet them there, or not at all if you prefer.”

Emilia,who had a bottle of water waiting in her car, hesitated, then nodded. Nothingbut dust waited for her at home.

Lillianput the dogs out and then beckoned Emilia in.

“Hey,stranger,” Angie said, waving from the couch where she sprawled with a bookpropped on her chest.

“Missedyou on our run,” said Lillian as Emilia waved.

“Liar.Oh hi, gorgeous.” Angie’s voice rose into a coo as Nell approached.

Nellgreeted this new human with a cautious sniff. The reason for her caution rumbledto life as a black shape Emilia had taken for a throw pillow hissed.

“Shutup, James,” said Angie.

Nellbeat a fast retreat to Emilia’s side. “I’ve heard about your cat.”

“Therumors are all true.” Angie prodded him with a socked foot. “He’s the worst ofall time.”

“Hereyou go.” Lillian handed her a glass of water. Angie, for her part, put down herbook, rose, stretched like a cat herself, and sauntered into the kitchen.

“Youstaying for dinner?” she asked.

“Oh.Um, I should probably get home and shower.”

“Wehave showers.”

“Stoppeer pressuring her. You’re always welcome, not that there’s anything to eat,” saidLillian.

“Maybewhen I don’t smell?” Emilia hoped her face and voice showed how much shegenuinely meant it.

“Yes.Lil’s a great cook. Have we mentioned that enough yet?”

“Don’tthink I haven’t noticed how all your dinner invitations involve zero cooking onyour part,” said Lillian.

“Icook,” Angie said. “Pasta, bread, pizza . . .”

“Ifit’s a carbohydrate, she cooks it.”

“Notall of us feel the need to slaughter entire villages of vegetables every timewe eat.”

“I’mkeeping the population in check,” said Lillian.

“BecauseSwiss chard is such a problem?”

“Haveyou been in the greenhouse recently? It’s a Swiss chard jungle. Anyway, we’re abunch of workaholics, but you should definitely hang out with us,” saidLillian.

“I’dlike that.”

“Oh,and Morgan told me to ask you if you need anything else for your house. We’vegot some painting supplies left over from the renovation.”

“Thatwould be perfect actually,” said Emilia.

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