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Silence fell over the table and then Astrid piped up “I bought a banoffee pie from Bova’s”

I took a second to understand “And youon banoffee pie from Bova’s?”

Chortling, ot up to clear the table just as my cell blasted from my purse

“I see your taste in ed,” Davina said

Grinning, I reached into my purse to silence my cell It was an unknown nued “Answer it”

I did “Hello?”

“Dahlia?” Dermot’s voice filled my ear

“Dermot?”

My sister’s expression froze with alertness

“I just got off the phone with Dar, and he said you’re thinking about going to see Mom?”

“Ye—”

“Don’t even think about it,” he growled “She wants to talk, she’ll coo there, you corner her, and you’ll have to deal withup

That tight ugly knot filled my stomach as I lowered my phone

Every time I took a step forward, there was someone to push me back

The rain lashed against the windshield of their unmarked Ford Crown Victoria as Michael waited for Davis to coet himself a cinnamon pinwheel or two Bastard He knew Michael didn’t eat that shit regularly