Page 66 of Our Daughter's Bones

“The other secret cookie ingredient,” Mackenzie gave Luna a high five. “Luna, I love your headband.”

“Thanks. I picked it out for myself.” Her chest swelled with pride.

“You’re going to grow up to be Blair Waldorf.”

“Who’s that?”

“You’ll find out. Just know that it’s a compliment,” she winked.

“Should I know who that is?” Nick leaned forward and whispered.

“A character inGossip Girl.”

“She’s not going to watchGossip Girlwhen she grows up.”

“Yeah? What’s she going to watch?”

“Like, National Geographic or some shit like that.” He bit his tongue and glanced at Luna.

She rolled her eyes. “It’s okay, Daddy. You say worse words. Mommy tells me to ignore you.”

Mackenzie spluttered out giggles with Luna.

“Laugh all you want. My point is that she isn’t watching that show.”

“What’s wrong with that show?”

“What the hell isGossip Girlgoing to teach her, Mack?”

“Some excellent quotes and fashion sense.”

“She knows enough already. Trust me,” he sighed, exasperated.

Richard arrived, holding a brittle melamine tray with two milkshakes. “Here you go, guys. Enjoy.”

Nick pointed at Mackenzie’s untouched plate of eggs. “You not eating?”

“Lost my appetite.”

“This is nice.” Luna was barely tall enough to keep her elbows on the table. “You don’t visit me now. Daddy said you were busy with work.”

After a few seconds of bleary confusion, she relaxed. “Yeah, kid. I-I was busy. But I promise I’ll see you more.”

She caught Nick hiding his smile behind his straw.

“Daddy, can I get my iPad?” She put out her hand.

“Only twenty minutes, Luna.”

“However long it takes you and Aunty Mack to discuss your latest murder.”

Nick shot Mackenzie a pointed look as he pulled out the mini-tablet and turned it on for Luna. Once the tablet was in her arms and her headphones were on, Luna could ignore the apocalypse.

“I fear one day Shelly will take her away from me if she keeps talking like this. You said you found something?”

“Yes!” She pulled out her phone. “This was on her bedroom floor. Have you seen this?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think much of it.”