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"Trina, what can I get you to drink?" Daddy asks her

"I’ll have whatever’s open," she says

"I don’t have anything open, but I’m happy to open whatever you like--"

"Ms Rothschild likes pinot grigio," Kitty says "With an ice cube"

She turns even redder "God, Kitty, I’lass after work, but not every night"

Daddy laughs "I’ll put soet cold soon"

Kitty looks pleased as punch, and when Daddy and Ms Rothschild go into the living roorab her by the collar and whisper, "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," she says, trying to squirm away

"Is this a setup?" I hiss

"So what if it is? They’d be a good match"

Huh! "What ers "She loves animals, she’s hot, she makes her own ood Plus she lives across the street, which is convenient

"Do you think Ms Rothschild watches documentaries?"

"Who cares about dusty old docuot The i is cheo of me so I can see if they have any!"

I release her collar "No, don’t go in yet" Kitty huffs and flounces away and I say fully, "Let’s let it siives me an appreciative nod "Let’s let it si her way through a piece of white meat, the only kind she’ll eat--she likes it sliced thin like deli meat, and Daddy tries but it always ends up kind of shredded and sad-looking I thinkknife for this birthday Personally, I like the thigh I honestly don’t knohy anyone would bother eating anything but thigh if they had the choice

When Ms Rothschild shakes sohtning bug I hs at Daddy’s corny jokes with sincerity I also appreciate the way she goes wild for my snickerdoodles I threw some frozen ones in the oven when Daddy put the coffee on

"I love how this cookie is crunchy but also soft You’re telling me you ive hs "Wait, don’t bother I knowis not one of them"

"We’ll share with you anytime--ays have lots of cakes and cookies," Kitty says, which is rich co from her, because it’s not like Kitty ever helps She only shows up for the fun parts, the decorating and eating

I sneak a look at Daddy, who is placidly sipping his coffee I sigh He’s co up of leftovers together, and it feels very natural Without anyone telling her, Ms Rothschild knows to hand-wash the wineglasses and not put them in the dishwasher, and on the first try she finds the aluht say anizational skills than Ms Rothschild’s intuition, but still I think I could see her fitting in with us pretty seamlessly And, as I said, she does live across the street, which is convenient People say absence : Proxirow fonder