Page 5 (1/2)

And again, Theresa didn’t see to talk about She was currently most concerned about the date that had failed because of an explosion the night before, literally

She growled now, aiet "I shouldn’t be pissed, but when that bird exploded in the oven, I’d had it That’s his idea of being ro a sparkler in the turkey He lit it, then stuffed it in there to hide it froesture, but he forgot the sparkler was still going My kitchen reeks of torched bird And you knohat he said afterward? He asked if I had ht that was so funny I swear More wine, ht after the other, then looked up to the observation box "Yeah, it wasn’t funny Or rolower forun and aiht to one of Carter’s restaurants Eet that smell out, too You’ll never know it even happened"

Carter’s restaurants Hearing those words, I tensed Would Theresa go to one of his establishoing to Octave, the nightclub, but I worried, knowing her true feelings What would happen if she started to shun Carter’s businesses?

Her eyes lit up "That sounds like a great plan" Twisting around, she hollered up as she reached over to turn on her speaker switch "You ganed

Arowl

Theresa didn’t seem to mind She turned her speaker back off, but said up to hi the wine this time"

He nodded, unable to talk back once more

Then she turned to me "Is that okay with you, Emma? Would you ask Carter what restaurant he would recommend?"

"Yeah, but I’m sure he’ll recommend The Favre And I’uys are always on the list to get a table"

And other benefits No one from Carter’s inner circle ever paid, and they always left with an expensive bottle of wine to open at hohed She clapped her hands together silently, ju up and down

Time alone for Amanda and me was rare We used to do Friday lunches, but she’d been proement of a bakery across town This enabled her to leave her side job at the diner next to The Richmond, and her new position left her without as ht, with Theresa and Noah on their date, was a gift for us as much as it was for Theresa I knew A for us while we cleaned the place, and we could talk openly and honestly We had a special bond I loved her as a sister We were the only two toMallory--and even Ben in an odd ould always keep us connected

Plus, Amanda had been pretty silent the laston I had plans to do an interrogation, twenty questions-style, to find out what--or who, if she’d started dating someone

Theresa sent off another round of shots, and when her clip was done, she put it down "I’ her clip as well