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“I’m going to text him now, let him know the basics, and that I’ll fill in details when I see him.”

Cleo smiled. “It’s good to have someone you understand and who understands you in your life, isn’t it?”

“It is. Then again, I’ve always had that with you. And since you’re in gym shorts, I assume you’re making good on your idea about working out.”

“I’m getting my own water bottle, then giving it a half hour. Twenty minutes with the damn weights, then a ten-minute yoga capper. My day started a little early, so why not?”

“You know, your arms are already happening.”

“That’s the yoga, but now I want more.”

Knowing if Cleo wanted more, she’d get it, Sonya walked up to the library.

Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” greeted her.

“Working on that, and getting there.”

She sent Trey a brief text, and by the time she’d booted up and started writing what she thought of as documentation, he texted back.

I get why you didn’t let me know when it happened, but I’m sorry you were alone when it did. Why don’t I pick up dinner, and you’ll tell me in more detail. Want pizza?

Yeah, she thought. He got her.

Because she heard her friend start up to the servants’ passage, she called out, “Cleo, Trey’s going to bring pizza tonight.”

“All about it.”

Pizza’s great, and I will tell you all. But I wasn’t alone. Clover was there. We’ll see you when you get here.

She wrote it all down, added it to the file she’d already started.

Because she hadn’t shaken it all off, she sent a quick thinking-of-you text to her mother, with added assurances all was well.

Another rapid response told her she was loved, she was missed.

When she opened her first email, she noted her Baby Mine clients wanted a digital ad and a trifold, coincidentally, to her mind, targeting twins.

With ideas already running through her mind, she answered, promising to have some concepts by the first part of the next week.

Anna Doyle came next, with an attachment. New products for the web page.

My energy level’s up!

Anna told her in the body of the email.

So I’ve been spending a lot of time in my studio. New pieces, descriptions, and pricing attached. I’m not sending all, as I’m doing some specifically for the event in May.

Also so glad you and Cleo can make dinner on Sunday. I’m hoping both of you have time, whenever, to meet up for lunch in the village. I’m reaching a point of all work and no play.

Before she answered, she downloaded the attachments.

“May be all work,” Sonya muttered, “but really excellent work.”

Beautiful pieces, perfectly photographed. I’ll have them up by this afternoon. As it happens, I’m in the village tomorrow to risk having my hair dealt with. I’ll bring a hat if it turns out wrong, and would love to meet you for lunch. I’ll ask Cleo if she can make it. We could both use a break, too.

How about one o’clock?

She sent, moved on to the next email, and the one after.