Page 35 of Blade

Smiling, she answered, “I figured.”

“I just came out of hiding too. I’m really happy and I’m sure you’re going to be happy too.”

“Thank you, sweet girl,” she said.

“Lennon, are you ready?” Daddy asked, coming into the lobby. “Well that looks like two women up to no good,” he teased when he saw us sitting together.

“We were just having some girl talk, your Little one is perfect,” Lennon said, ruffling my hair and walking over to Daddy.

“I think so too,” Daddy answered, sending me a wink.

I grabbed the still-full can of soda Lennon had opened and went to the back pouring it into the sink and rinsing the can out before tossing it into the bin I’d been saving. Frowning, I realized we weren’t bringing in as many as Blade needed for his sculpture. I would be off soon and then maybe I could go to my usual spots to get some for him.

Grabbing a black bag from under the sink, and some latex gloves from the counter, I decided that’s what I would do.

“Good afternoon,” Allyson said, coming into the staff room and putting her lunch in the fridge.

“Hi!”

“How did everything go this morning?” she asked, following me up to the front.

“Great, everything is ready for you. No cancellations, but Rogue and Bash had openings after six if anyone walks in.”

“Perfect.”

“You look cute today!” I said, admiring her skirt. A skirt I recognized because I’d donated it to the shelter. It was my mother’s.

“Thank you, someone gave Ms. Ramsey some clothes and it was in the pile. It’s so soft.”

“Well, aren’t you a lucky ducky! I am off duty, but you can call me from the work phone if you need me. I’ll be around the area.”

“I can text you now!” she said, pulling out an iPhone.

“Wow! You saved enough money for that really quickly!”

She laughed. “No. I would have needed to save forever. Bash put it on his plan for me and I pay him for it monthly.”

“That was really nice of Bash.”

“Yeah, it was,” she agreed, still eyeing her phone proudly.

“Well my number is right there,” I said, pointing to a list by the phone.

“Okay. Where are you going?”

“To find some cans. We don’t have enough in the bin here.”

Allyson’s face immediately turned from relaxed to worried. “Do you need some money? I can give you some!”

Bless her. “No! No! Blade is making a sculpture and he needs thousands of cans. When I was sick, I didn’t collect any and I set up a bin here for them, but he doesn’t have enough. I’m going to try and collect some over the next few weeks so he has what he needs.”

“Oh. Okay. That makes sense.”

“Thank you for worrying about me, though. You’re a good friend. Will you tell Blade where I am if he asks? He’s with a client and I don’t want to interrupt him.”

“Sure thing! Be careful.”

Walking out the door, I grinned. I had a lot less to fear since Billy was dead.

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