Chapter Nine

“Thank you, Mrs. Foster.” Thalia pulled the cup of coffee closer, leaned over the cup, and inhaled the rich scent of fresh brewed coffee.

“You’re welcome. Thank you for coming out on a Sunday. Your last name is Makris? Did I have your brother for piano?”

Thalia lifted the cup. “Yes, my younger brother, Joel. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. Is this the Morning After blend from Bella’s?”

“It is. You know your coffee. And it’s been a long time. Please call me Cora. Does Joel still play? He was very good if I remember correctly.”

“Just for church when the regular pianist isn’t available.”

Thalia sipped from her cup as she swept her gaze over the cozy kitchen. The smooth taste of the medium roast slid over her tongue. The kitchen was designed in a tight layout. The four-seat wooden table where they sat was tucked into one corner next to a window and opposite the refrigerator.

A small stove with a worn cooktop held a tea kettle and a small black frying pan. The numbers on the stove top dials were worn away, the metal showing through in spots. The curtains were faded, the garden pattern of birds and blooms barely visible on them.

Cora tapped the top of the table, drawing Thalia’s attention. “Thank you, again. Sorry, you made this trip for nothing. Amari would never admit it, but she’s been a wreck since the ring went missing.”

“It’s fine. I’m surprised she didn’t ask Brianna for it.”

“She did. But not the right way—Brianna’s on the autism spectrum. She uses Practical Speech. If you don’t say exactly what you mean, you don’t always get an answer you understand.”

“Ah. Now it makes sense. She told me Amari hadn’t asked her for it.”

“She didn’t. She asked her if she had seen it. Not if she knew where the ring was. We all struggle sometimes to say what we mean, or to understand what folks are trying to say. Brianna is working on learning idioms and to understand the meaning of words beyond their practical meaning.” A broad smile crossed Cora’s face, and Thalia’s heart hitched a bit as she remembered that same expression on Amari’s face when she interacted with her daughter. “She has a new speech therapist this year and is making great progress. Last week we played charades, and she was able to act out a few idioms and tell us the meaning.”

“Grammy! Lucy keeps knocking over my dominos.”

“Excuse me a minute.” Cora hustled out of the kitchen.

Thalia sipped her coffee, the hot liquid smoothing off the rough edges of her morning. She leaned back in her chair and shifted her gaze to the refrigerator door. Colorful magnets held intricately detailed drawings. An assortment of small watercolors were plastered over the surface, side by side with dozens of photos of Brianna and Amari together. In the top corner, a faded photo of Amari and a woman holding a baby was taped to the door.

Thalia left the table and carried her cup with her. She studied the photo as she sipped from her cup. Amari’s arm was wrapped around the woman’s shoulders, and they both stared down at the baby bundled in a pink-and-green blanket in the woman’s arms. The joy on both their faces took Thalia’s breath away.

“That’s Brianna’s other mother, Rebecca. We lost her when Brianna was two. Cancer.” Cora’s voice held a muted pain.

Thalia turned toward Cora. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Cora pressed her lips together and nodded in acknowledgement before she turned away. She opened a cabinet and pulled out a package of fudge stripe cookies. “I don’t know if you’ve had lunch, but I like a little sweet with my coffee. Would you like some cookies?”

“I haven’t had breakfast and that would be lovely, thank you.” Thalia sat at the table. Cora placed two cookies on a plate and then passed them to her along with a napkin.

“No one makes you breakfast?”

Thalia raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking if I’m single?”

An impish smile twisted Cora’s mouth. “Is that wrong of me?”

“No. And why?”

“Mom? Who are you talking to?” Amari’s voice carried down the hallway.

“Thalia.” Cora took a bite of her cookie, chewed slowly, and winked at Thalia.

Thalia sipped her coffee and kept her gaze fixed on the doorway to the kitchen. Hurried footsteps clattered on the hardwood floor of the hallway. Thalia placed her cup on the table, picked up a cookie, and nibbled it. She watched Amari’s entrance from under her lashes.

“Oh.” Amari stepped into the small space and gripped the back of the kitchen chair.

“I thought since Thalia had been so generous, we could at least give her a cup of coffee for her trouble.” Cora lifted her coffee cup and gestured to the coffee press. “There’s a cup for you if you want.”

Amari rubbed the back of her neck. “Of course.” She crossed the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee, slopping a bit over the edge.

Amari wiped up the spilled coffee and returned to the table. Thalia finished her cookie and wiped her mouth with her napkin to hide her smile at Amari’s discomfort. She took another sip of her coffee. “Almost done. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.”

“Please stay.”

Cora turned in her seat and stared at Amari before she slowly turned back to Thalia.

“I mean if you don’t have another appointment. I’d like to talk to you—about some improvements we’ve been considering.” Amari walked to the table and rested her hand on the back of the chair.

“We have?” Cora crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow.

“Yes.” Amari shot a glare at her mother before she sat across from Thalia. “We have.”

Thalia tilted her head and glanced at Amari’s face. “I don’t know. I’m not supposed to offer estimates.” She shifted in her chair and studied the pattern on the coffee mug.

“Would you make an exception? This once?” Amari’s voice slid under Thalia’s skin.

Thalia glanced up and into Amari’s deep-brown eyes, ensnared by their molten heat. She flushed at a memory of Amari’s gaze locked on hers as her hand delivered her to a place of ecstasy.

Cora cleared her throat. “I’m going to go take Brianna some of these cookies. You two enjoy.” She plated up two cookies and sauntered out of the kitchen.

Thalia’s cheeks burned. “Your mother is as subtle as red underwear.”

Amari chuckled and looked away from Thalia. “She’s a piece of work. And I’m glad you stayed. I’m not usually such an ass. Would you consider going to dinner with me?”

“Are you asking me out?”

Amari leaned forward, rested her elbows on the table, and knotted her hands together. “Yes.”

“Are you asking Pleasedtoeatyou69 on a date, or Thalia?”

Amari glanced away from Thalia’s face. “I’m asking as Amari, not Bookish1.” She brought her gaze back to Thalia’s face. “Let me try again. Would you go to dinner with me, Thalia Makris?”

Thalia placed her coffee mug on the table. “Why are you asking?”

Amari’s brow wrinkled and the fine lines at the edge of her eyes grew deeper. “What? Why does anyone ask anyone out to dinner?”

“In my experience, it’s been a precursor to asking for sex.”

Amari tilted her head sideways. “If that was all I wanted, I’d use the app.” She leaned closer. “I want to know you, Thalia. To really know you. Would you let me take you to dinner?”

Thalia held Amari’s gaze over the edge of her cup as she drank the last of her coffee. She placed the mug on the table. “Let me think about it.”

Amari leaned back in her chair.

“If, and that’s a big if, I decide to go out with you, I might be free on Sunday, but I need to check the call schedule.”

Amari pulled her phone from her pocket and unlocked it. “Can I send you my number? So you can call me?”

The loud chirp of Thalia’s phone broke the moment. “That’s the service. I need to take that.” Thalia took a pen and business card from her shirt pocket. She printed her personal number on the back of the card. “Let’s talk. Call me later.” She slid the card to Amari. She stood and tucked her chair under the table. “Where should I put my cup?”

Amari matched her movements, reached across the table, and picked up the card. “Leave it. I’ll get it.”

Thalia lifted on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to Amari’s cheek. Amari caught her arm and brushed her mouth over Thalia’s mouth lightly.

A wicked current of desire shot through her body. Thalia lifted her hand and placed it on Amari’s chest. The press of Amari’s hard nipple against her palm made her bold, and Thalia slipped her other hand behind Amari’s head and deepened the kiss. Thalia’s phone chirped again, and she stifled her groan as she broke their kiss and stepped back. “Call me.” She eased past Amari and strode out of the kitchen.

★

Amari held on to Thalia’s card with both hands and turned to watch her walk down the hall. She lifted her hand and touched her mouth, already craving the next time she could kiss Thalia.

“Mama! Come look at my domino train,” Brianna called from the living room. Amari opened her wallet and tucked Thalia’s card inside before she left the kitchen.