Page 104 of Accidental Murder

“Can’t you afford new?” Megan asked.

“Why buy new when you can breathe life into someone else’s discards?” Kayla peeked over her shoulder. “So what’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“Has Captain Wald reached out?”

“Two messages yesterday. Three last week.” Kayla sighed. She’d hoped the calls would lessen as the months passed, but they hadn’t. “He says he only wants to be friends, but I know better. Tell him I’m fine.”

“I always do.”

Kayla kicked the front door open and drank in the aroma of the Mr. Lincoln roses she’d purchased a week ago for her birthday—one dozen for her, one dozen for Ashley. After she positioned the new table in the kitchen, she set a sugar bowl in the center. Sugar, according to Ashley who never ate it, wasgood luck.

Java raced in and brushed her ankles with his tail.

“Don’t trip me, fella.” She nudged him with a toe and slotted a pod of French Roast into the Keurig coffee maker. “Come on, Megan, confess.”

Megan set twin chairs by the table and perched on one. “Tom and I got engaged.”

“I knew it! Congratulations! Let me see the ring.”

Megan wiggled her finger.

“Nice.” It was simple yet classic, like Megan. “It suits you.”

The coffee machine did its thing and soon it beeped. Kayla handed a mug to Megan and made another for herself.

Megan scooped Java off the floor and set him in her lap.

“How did he ask?” Kayla added sugar to her cup. “Did he get down on one knee?”

“How much time have you got? I know you have your standing appointment with Veronica.”

Kayla flicked some sugar at Megan. “An hour. Talk. I want details.”

The months followingAshley’s death had been hard to muscle through. The only way Kayla could function was by focusing outwardly, not inwardly. After confessing her subterfuge to the headmistress at Jewels of the World Academy, Kayla had initiated more sessions with Veronica. Regular meetings on Tuesdays, per usual. But on Saturdays she took Veronica on field trips. This particular Saturday included a visit to the hair salon in Union Square. Afterward, they would venture to Ghirardelli Square for ice cream.

Upon learning Kayla was alive, Veronica had renounced long hair and chosen a short bob in honor of Ashley. Kayla, on the other hand, was letting her own hair grow back.

Around noon, after much pampering by the stylist, Kayla and Veronica exited the chic salon. Sun beamed down on GearyStreet. The sidewalk radiated heat. Even the store windows exuded warmth.

So much for a gentle cooler summer, she mused.

“I need lipstick,” Veronica said in her most mature voice.

Kayla removed a pink lip gloss from her purse. She applied some to Veronica’s lips and daubed some on her own.

“I like Billy,” Veronica blurted.

“Who’s Billy?”

“He likes math.”

Kayla guided Veronica in the direction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit station. “You hate math.”

“Not any more. Not since I met Billy. He stutters and he doesn’t look at me, but I don’t mind. He laughs a lot.”