“Smithie,” LaTeesha said softly.

I ignored him.

Wel , I didn’t real y ignore him because I felt his words in my gut but I didn’t let him know that.

I nodded and said, “I’l be here at seven on Monday.”

“Or not, your cal ,” Smithie returned before he looked away.

LaTeesha squeezed my arm.

I left.

* * * * *

I went to King Soopers and bought a whole load of stuff, then I dragged it back up to the apartment and went straight into the kitchen, cal ing a hel o to Mom, Lottie and Ada who were al sitting in the living room. I pul ed the stuff out of the bags and started preparing to bake like a baking fool.

Mom, Lottie and Ada came into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” Mom asked.

“Baking,” I said, opening up the flour with a little more force than it needed so it gave a dusty, white “poof”.

“Baking?” Mom asked.

“I can’t afford to buy nice things to say thank you to everyone, so I’m gonna make stuff for them.”

“That’s nice,” Ada said.

Lottie leaned a hip against the counter.

“Mom and I’ve been talking.”

Wonderful. Mom and Lottie talking. This spel ed Disaster for me with a capital “D”.

“About what?” I asked, though I didn’t want to know.

“Wel , Mom cal ed the landlord to this place and gave up the lease. He’s got a waiting list and wants to jack up the rent so he’s pleased as punch.”

I turned and stared.

“What?”

“I’m moving in with Trixie,” Mom said.

“You can’t move in with Trixie!” I kinda yel ed.

“Why not?” Mom asked.

I didn’t have an answer to that. She was getting around better al the time. Eddie was right, she didn’t need me as much as I thought she did.

I knew I couldn’t fight it and didn’t have the energy anyway.

I turned back to baking.

“Where am I going to live?” I asked.

“We found you a sweet one bedroom, in a big old Victorian house close to Eddie,” Lottie told me.

I closed my eyes.

I opened them.

“Where are you going to live?” I asked Lottie.

“I got some money stashed, I’m going to buy a place. I’m also going to pay for Mom’s OT, PT and medical stuff and give Trixie a little bit extra until Mom gets ful y back on her feet. I’l stay with them until I get my place. You’re off the hook.”

I turned to them.

“Who said I want to be off the hook?” I asked.

“No one, we’re just letting you off the hook,” Lottie replied.

I stared at them then turned back to baking.

“Whatever,” I mumbled.

“Listen, Missy…” Uh-oh, Mom used the m-word, “You’re al -fired determined not to live your own life, so we’re making you and you don’t have anything to say about it. Got me?”

I nodded. I knew better than to argue during a Missy Moment.

“Henrietta Louise…” Mom knew I wasn’t ful y committed to the nod.

Dear Lord.

I turned and looked at Mom and said, definitely snippy,

“What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me. I don’t know what’s going on with you and that bag of yours being back in the house but I’m going to tel you now, you’re al kinds of fool if you don’t hold onto Eddie Chavez and hold on tight.”

“Mom…”

She gave me The Hand.

“You let go of Oscar for no good reason…” Mom informed me.

“He was possessive,” I said.

“So what?” Mom shot back, “Good trait in a man if you ask me. Anyway, he adored you, stil does if you want the God’s honest truth.”

Yeesh.

I went back to measuring, Mom went back to lecturing.

“You let go of Luis after he asked to marry you.”

“He lived with his mother.”

“So? He would have moved out for you,” Mom shot back.

“Do we have to go through this?” I asked.

Mom started talking to the ceiling, “I don’t even know what was wrong with Alex, he was a nice boy.” Guess we had to go through it.

It was then Ada came forward and wrapped her hand around my wrist. I stopped measuring and looked at her.

She stared into my eyes, smiled a smal , kind of sad, smile, let go of my wrist and turned. “There’s a World’s Most Unbelievable Police Chases Caught on Video starting about now. Let’s watch it at my place.” she said to Mom and Lottie.

Both my mother and sister opened their mouths to argue but Ada must have given them a look. I didn’t know Ada was capable of giving a look, but whatever she did, it worked.

They left.

I watched the space they were in for a long time forcing, with a super human effort, my mind to go blank.

Then I baked.

I swung by the hospital to visit Dad.

They said it was good he made it through the night. They took him off the critical list and would move him out of ICU if things kept on as they were.

They told me he’d been awake for awhile but he was asleep when I went in to see him.

I sat, holding his hand and tel ing him about my day.

Then I told him about my decision.

He didn’t respond, he didn’t give me any judgements, attitude or advice and certainly not The Hand.

This, I thought was good even though I’d rather he didn’t do it because he didn’t have any judgements, attitude or advice, not that he was a couple of brain pathways shutting down away from a coma.

Then, I left.

I walked into Fortnum’s about half an hour before closing carrying bags fil ed with tins and boxes that were stuffed ful with cookies, cakes and pies.

Everyone was there. Lee, Indy, Al y, Tex, Duke, Jane and Hank.

“Jet!” Indy yel ed when she saw me and ran up to me, giving me a big hug.

I was about to tel her I was okay but she pul ed away and shoved her hand in my face.

There was huge rock on her ring finger.

“Ohmigod!” I yel ed, dumped the bags and hugged her, shaking her body from side to side and laughing. “You’re getting married,” I said when I pul ed back a bit.

She nodded. “Lee asked me over a champagne breakfast.” Then she leaned in, “We just got out of bed, like, an hour ago,” she whispered.

She leaned back, eyes bright and happy, and I nodded the knowing girlfriend’s nod.

“Nice,” I said