I leaned forward. “What can we do?” I asked.
She almost smiled. “You’re already doing it.”
Marcus walked in about five minutes later. He stood just inside the door and looked in our direction.
“I’ll get this,” I said.
I walked over to him. He looked contrite.
“You mad?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No. Well, maybe I was for about thirty seconds. That’s what you were trying to tell me earlier, wasn’t it?”
He nodded. “Eddie wanted it to be a surprise. But the more I thought about it, I didn’t want to keep secrets from you.”
I smiled at him. “I’m sorry I called you a guy.”
“I am a guy,” he said. “I thought Eddie’s idea was romantic.”
“Maybe in different circumstances,” I said.
“How’s Roma?” he asked.
I glanced over at her. “Upset. Worried about Eddie.”
Marcus shook his head. “He loves her, Kathleen. I’m certain about that.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with that,” I said.
“He’s not going to give up.”
“I didn’t think he would.”
“Okay,” he said. “Okay.” He held out the keys to the SUV. “Here. Take Roma home.”
“How are you going to get home?”
“I can get a ride with someone. Don’t worry. I’ll pick up the car in the morning.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
He looked over at Maggie. “Brady’s outside.”
“I’ll tell Maggie,” I said. I caught his arm and gave it a squeeze before I walked back to the table.
“Mags, Brady is outside,” I said.
Roma looked up at her. “Go,” she said. “I’m all right.”
Maggie smiled at her. “No,” she said. “I’m going to go talk to him for a minute but I’ll be right back.”
“Maggie,” Roma began.
Maggie shook her head and smiled again. “No,” she repeated. Then she got up and headed for the door.
“I should go find Eddie,” Roma said.
I shook my head as I reached for my mug. “Eddie’s fine. You should have a bowl of pudding cake.”
“Pudding cake?” she said, frowning at me.
I took a sip of my cocoa. It was still hot. “‘Duct tape or chocolate can fix pretty much anything,’ is what you say, and I don’t think this is a duct tape kind of problem.”
That got me a small smile. “You’re right about that.”
I leaned back in my chair and caught Nic’s attention. He came around the counter and headed in our direction. “What can I get you, Kathleen?” he asked.
“Is there any of Eric’s pudding cake in the kitchen?” I asked.
He smiled. “There might be. I can check.”
“Would you, please?” I asked.
“Sure thing,” he said. “Three bowls if there is?”
“Please,” I said. I knew Maggie would never say no to Eric’s pudding cake.
Nic headed for the kitchen.
“Do you understand why I can’t say yes to Eddie?” Roma asked. “He was playing in the minor leagues when Sydney was little and he missed so much of that time with her. He told me once that he wished he could have a do-over. I’m just too old for that.”
“There are other options,” I said gently.
“I know. But they’re expensive and they take time.”
“And?” I nudged.
She twisted the silver ring she wore around and around her index finger. “I’ve seen what the stress of those other options can do to people. I don’t want that to happen to Eddie and me.” She looked at me. “Do you think I’m wrong?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I’m on your side no matter what. I’m your friend. When Marcus and I finally got together, which both you and Maggie had thought should happen from the beginning, did you say I told you so?”
“Yes, I did,” she said. “At least twice. Maybe three times.”
“All right. Bad example. My point is, even though you thought I was wrong about Marcus, you and Maggie were always there for me.”
“I don’t want either of you to take sides,” she said, wrapping her fingers around her cup.
“I don’t think we have to,” I said. “But if it comes to that, your side is the one we’re on.”
Maggie came in the door then, shaking herself before she walked over to us. Nic stepped out of the kitchen then, carrying a tray with three bowls of Eric’s chocolate pudding cake.
“You ordered pudding cake?” Maggie said, slipping off her jacket and dropping back onto her seat.
“You did want some, didn’t you?” I asked.
“Absolutely. Chocolate is like a good painting.”
I frowned at her.
“Good for the soul,” she said as Nic set a steaming bowl in front of her.
Once we all had a dish, Maggie stretched out her arm and put her hand, palm down, in the middle of the table. “We’re the three musketeers,” she said.
“We’re not the three musketeers,” Roma said. “That’s just something you made up when you and Kathleen carjacked me so you could follow Will Redfern and find out why he was taking so long to finish the renovations at the library.”
“And we did,” Maggie said, picking up her spoon with her other hand and trying the pudding cake. “Umm, this is good,” she sighed. Then she slapped her hand against the table. I reached over and put my hand on top of hers.
“All for one,” I said.
“Stop trying to make me feel better,” Roma said.
I shook my head. “Sorry. I can’t do that. All for one.”
She looked from me to Mags and her lower lip trembled. “You’re the best friends I’ve ever had,” she said. Then she swallowed hard and laid her hand on top of mine. “And one for all.”
21
I drove Maggie home first. She reached forward from the back and hugged Roma in the passenger seat. “‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well,’” she said softly.
“Julian of Norwich,” I said. It had been a long time since I’d heard the quote generally attributed to the Christian mystic.
“If you want to talk or just be quiet, call me,” Maggie added.
Roma nodded. “I will.”
I waited until I saw Maggie go inside her apartment building; then I turned to Roma. “Come home with me,” I said. “I’ll loan you a pair of fuzzy pajamas and I promise that Owen and Hercules won’t ask you any annoying questions.”
“I should go home,” she said.
“Why?” I asked.
She pulled a hand back through her dark hair. “I don’t know.”
“So come with me.”
“All right,” she finally said with a shrug.
“We’re home,” I called as Roma and I stepped into the kitchen.
After a moment a furry black-and-white head peered around the living room doorway. A moment later a gray tabby head looked around the doorframe on the other side. The cats exchanged a look.
“Merow!” Owen said. Then he disappeared. Luckily, not literally.
Hercules padded into the kitchen.
I took Roma’s jacket, hanging it on one of the hooks by the back door.
“How about some tea?” I asked.
“Is it that the herbal tea Maggie likes?” she asked, pulling out one of the kitchen chairs and sitting down.
I nodded. “It is.”
“Then no, not really.”
I smiled. It was good to see Roma’s sense of humor. “How about another cup of hot chocolate?”
She thought for a moment. “I think that would be good.” She tucked one leg up underneath her and folded her arms over her midsection.
Hercules came and sat next to her chair. He looked up at her, his green eyes narrowed almost as though he was wondering why she was here.
“How was your night?” Roma said to him.
“Mrrr,” he said.
When the milk was heated and the cocoa made, I joined Roma at the table. She stirred her hot chocolate, watching the little whirlpool she made in her cup. “Don’t be mad at Marcus, Kathleen,” she said finally, looking up at me. She almost smiled. “I know he was part of all this. Eddie had to have had someone helping him. They probably did some male version of a pinkie swear.”