Page 103 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“She’s asexwriter,” Julia whispers as if someone could hear us.

I look around the empty room. “So?”

She lets out a huff and then takes a step closer. “I just didn’t know things were that serious…that she would be here today.”

“It actually makes more sense for her to be here than you,” I say, and Julia’s mouth drops. “Whyareyou here?”

“Excuse me?”

“We haven’t spoken inmonths,and you think here, in my brother’s home, on my niece’s birthday, is the best time for us to have our first conversation?”

“They’re still my family too, Marshall.”

“I think you technically lose those privileges after a breakup.”

“I’m not the one who decided to break up—”

“I’m done here.” I walk past her and straight for the door. “Great to see you.”

When I get to the hallway, I turn my head both ways looking for Lucy who’s nowhere to be found. I scan the different rooms, and then I see her on the floor with Sadie in her bedroom.

“You should really be back outside.” Lucy watches Sadie rummage through the toys on her shelf. “You have a lot of guests who came here to celebrate you.”

“I will,” Sadie says. “I just want to show you Midge!”

“Okay, okay, andthenwe should go outside,” Lucy says.

Sadie turns around and pulls out a doll of some sort. It has giant eyes and blue hair, a sparkly rainbow tattoo on its cheek, and no clothes.

“This is Midge!” Sadie says very proud of herself and puts the doll in Lucy’s hand.

“Well, Midge isvery cool.” Lucy carefully takes the doll and admires it.

“She looks like you!” Sadie smiles. I frown and cock my head, trying to get a better look at the doll.

Lucy laughs. “I think I see the vision?”

“You’re very pretty like Midge!”

“Well, thank you, Sadie. Not as pretty asyou,but thank you.”

“Guess what I asked Mommy and Daddy for my birthday,” Sadie whispers loud enough that I can hear.

“Um…a new tooth?” Lucy guesses, and I smile.

“No!” Sadie laughs. “I asked them for a puppy! I find out tomorrow because that’s myrealbirthday.”

“I had a puppy growing up,” Lucy says, and I’m intrigued by this little detail.

“You did?!”

“I sure did.” Lucy nods. “His name was Casper because he was a little pittie that was all white. He looked like a ghost!”

“I’m afraid of ghosts,” Sadie says.

“Oh no.” Lucy eases up. “Casper is a friendly ghost! The friendliest. He’s just a little boy.”

“A little boy ghost?” Sadie repeats. “That’s sad.”