Page 78 of Truth, Lies, and Second Dates
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: You know what’s weird? We both text in complete sentences.
TBMD: Anyone who doesn’t is a savage.
TBMD: A SAVAGE.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: Yow! Noted. Say hi to Hannah and the bud for me. Cool name for a band BTW. “And now, for your polka pleasure, HANNAH AND THE BUD!”
TBMD: Never while I live.
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP:
CAPTAIN AVA CAPP: Yeah. I’m one of those. I’ll never apologize for gratuitous emoji use, either. Be resigned.
TBMD: Noted.
“You have thesilliestgrin on your face, Uncle Tom.”
“Irrelevant. Ava says hello. Ready?”
“Yes. It was nice of her to think of me, especially since she had new information about your case.” Before he could ask, she added, “You tensed up when you first started reading her texts—your shoulders gotsupertight and you were frowning. But toward the end you loosened up and were smiling. So she must have told you something about the case and then, I’m guessing—”
“Deducing.”
“It sounds less cold-blooded when I say I’m guessing.”
“Point.” He personally adored the way random passersby reacted to Hannah’s towering intellect. Especially since she often “turned it off” and sounded like a typical child immediately afterward… until something new teased her intellect. “You needn’t do that on my account.”
“Thank you. Anyway. I’m guessing that after the case update, she moved up your timetable for social interactions. Which made you smile.”
“So it did. Right on all counts.” He swung both bags off the bed. “Shall we?”
“Obviously. I like Boston, but I miss our house.”
“Those are my exact sentiments as well.”
“Uncle Tom, I don’t want to know what happened to that boy you tried to teach empathy, do I?”
“You do not.”
“Ah.”
Forty
Hilton Boston Logan Airport
“What can I do for you, Ava?”
“Well, Jan, first I’d like props for remembering you’re in California. It wasn’t easy, because my mind is the opposite of a steel trap.”
A snort. “Congratulations. You finally remembered something that you have literally known for years. I’ll FedEx you a cookie.”
“Twocookies.”
“I’m sorry to say we’re still working on your, uh, problem, so I don’t really have an update yet. Is that why you called?”
“That, and to giveyouan update. I know we’re supposed to come to HR or a union rep when someone makes us uncomfortable…”
“Whoa, whoa. Is this a #MeToo thing? Should I be recording this conversation?”
