“And that’s when Vinnie finally fetched something,” Kylie said, regaling her friends with the story of the previous night’s activities.

“He did?” Haley asked, thrilled. “Oh, what a good boy he is. I knew he could do it.”

Elle, eyes narrowed on Kylie’s face, shook her head. “Nope. That’s not the whole story. What did he fetch? A pair of your socks?”

“Um,” Kylie said.

“Panties!” Elle guessed and everyone laughed.

Kylie dropped her head. “Worse.”

They were at the coffee shop, in line for their various choices of caffeine. Tina owned and ran the shop, a tall, dark-haired, dark-skinned stunning woman who had a love of everything big—big hair, big earrings, big shoes.

Kylie admired her commitment to fashion as her own style could best be described as “doing everything possible to avoid underwire.”

Thankfully, Tina also loved baking muffins. Back when Tina had been Tim, there’d been no muffins at the coffee shop. Just coffee. But Tina was happier than Tim had ever been and that translated to the most amazing muffins on the planet.

“Could be worse,” Tina said. “He could’ve fetched your vibrator.”

Kylie moaned miserably and everyone burst out laughing.

“Oh my God,” Haley said. “He did that really? He fetched your vibrator? You’re my new hero!”

Kylie’s face was flaming.

“Hey,” Tina said, “Don’t be embarrassed. You’re a woman with needs and now he knows you know how to meet those needs. Which means he also knows that you don’t need no man. It puts more pressure on him to perform well or be replaced.” She grinned. “Trust me, for a man, that’s always a good thing.”

“Don’t worry honey,” someone said from behind her in line. Eighty-something Mrs. Winslow, who lived on the third floor of the building. The older woman smiled knowingly. “He’ll appreciate your toys. But remember, it’s all fun and games until someone loses the key to the handcuffs.”

Tina reached over the counter to high-five Mrs. Winslow.

Pru, another of their gang, entered the shop wearing a workout tank and capris. “I hate it when I’m on the treadmill and accidentally hit the stop button and come to buy a muffin,” she said.

“You’re not supposed to work out on a full stomach,” Elle told her.

“Right. So I can’t work out. Ever.” Pru smiled, suddenly a little nervously. “Or . . . for at least the next nine months.”

Everyone gasped and jumped up and started talking at once.

Elle held up her hands for them all to shut up and looked at Pru. “You’re pregnant?”

“Turned the stick blue,” Pru said and blew out a breath. “I’m only slightly terrified.”

They all hugged and squeezed and fussed until Pru stopped them. “Okay, okay, you love me, I love you, yada yada. We’re in public making a scene and I’m not going to be that pregnant chick who makes it all about her.”

“How’s Finn taking it?” Elle asked.

Finn was half owner of the pub and Pru’s husband. She grinned dreamily. “He’s so happy.”

“Good,” Elle said. “But man, I’m glad it’s you. Out of all of us, you’re the one who could handle the whole getting fat, having to stay up all night singing lullabies, and other stuff like not drinking for nine months—What?” she said to Kylie, who was miming that she should zip it because Pru had gone pale.

“Oh my God,” Pru whispered. “I’m going to get fat.”

“No,” Elle said, looking unaccustomedly panicked and clearly trying to backtrack. “Well, maybe only a little. And hey, it’ll be for a great cause, right?”

“Right,” Pru said. “Except I’ll have to stay up all night singing lullabies. And I don’t know any!”

“We’ll buy a book,” Elle said. “And get a gym membership. It’s going to be okay.”

Pru had a death grip on Elle’s hand. “You promise?”

“We all promise,” Kylie said even though she hated going to a gym, and they all hugged again.

Willa came running in next, apologizing to everyone in line as she bypassed them to catch up with her group. “Sorry,” she murmured. “Sorry . . . I’m not buying anything, I promise.”

“Pru’s pregnant,” Elle told her.

Willa gasped and grinned. “I knew it!”

“You did?” Pru asked. “How?”

“Cuz after we ate that plate of wings last night, you had to unzip your jeans.” Willa gave Pru a hug and her purse made a funny noise.

It was filled with three black Lab puppies.

Everyone peered in and let out a collective “Awwwwww.”

“I know, right?” Willa asked. “I’m babysitting. When I die, I want to come back as a black Lab pup.”

“I’d come back as a German shepherd,” Tina said.

“Tough, impenetrable, and loyal to a fault,” Haley said and nodded. “Suits you.”

“Thanks, sweetie.” Tina smiled. “I think you’d make a great St. Bernard.”

“Hey,” Haley said, but then sighed. “But seeing as I accidentally punched myself in the face while trying to pull my blanket up this morning, I get it.”

“No, it’s because you’re sweet, kind, loving, warm,” Tina said.

“Oh.” Haley smiled. “That works too.”

“I think Elle would be a Doberman,” Willa said. “Tough, badass, smart as hell.”

“I can live with that.” Elle looked at Willa. “You’d be a pit bull. All bark, some bite, but fiercely protective of those you love.”

And then everyone turned to Kylie. They all looked at her for the longest time while she waited impatiently. “Well?” she finally demanded.

“A cat,” they said in unison.

“Great,” she said, tossing up her hands. “I’m picky, independent, and bitchy.”

“No, you’re loving, curious, playful, goofy, and adventurous,” Elle said.

Okay, she supposed she could live with that.

“Muffins to go with the coffee, ladies?” Tina asked.

“We shouldn’t,” Elle said, the strong one.

Sadie walked by and shook her head. “The more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap,” she said. “Stay safe. Eat muffins. Plural.”

So they ate muffins. Plural.

Later that day, Kylie was surprised when her mom stopped by the shop with takeout for lunch. “What’s wrong?” Kylie asked, removing her apron and trying to dust off.

“Does something have to be wrong?” Her mom was in a sundress and a denim jacket open to reveal her ample, store-bought cleavage, paired with high-heeled sandals. Her hair added a good five inches to her height. As always, she was camera ready, looking thirty-five instead of nearly fifty. But today her eyes were sad.

“No,” Kylie said on a sigh. “Of course not. It just usually is when we actually get together, that’s all.”

“Maybe a daughter should try harder to see her mama.”

Kylie took her mom’s hand. “Maybe she should. Tell me what’s up.”

“Nothing, honestly. I just wanted to see my baby for lunch, is all. Vinnie, darling, come over here and love me since my daughter won’t.”

Vinnie raced over there, butt wriggling, eyes warm and happy to see anyone who wanted to see him. Her mom scooped him up and loved up on him, her mouth curved in a glossy pout.

Kylie sighed. “Well, I’m not going to compete by licking your face or wriggling my ass in happiness,” she warned.

“How about just a hug then?”

“I’m dirty,” Kylie warned.

“I can wash up.”

So they hugged hello, her mom smelling really great of some fancy perfume, Kylie all too well aware that she smelled like wood chips and probably lacquer.

They sat in the courtyard with Vinnie at their feet, eating the deli sandwiches and chips her mom had brought. When they were finished, Kylie looked at her.

“What?” her mom said.

“I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Kylie said. “For the real reason you’re here today.”

“Maybe I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Mom.”

They smiled at each other and Kylie realized she had missed her mom. “It’s nice to see you.”

“It’s been a few months,” her mom said. “We tend to like each other better with a few months’ distance between visits.”

Kylie opened her mouth to deny that, but it was true and her mom laughed at the look on her face. “I’m right.”

“Maybe,” Kylie admitted.

“But I’m happy to hear you missed me.”

“I did. But I’m sensing there’s more to this lunch than I-miss-yous.”

Her mom sighed. “I’m just in a little bind right now, that’s all.”

“What kind of a bind?”

“I’m in between bartending gigs, but I’ve got some irons in the fire. It’s just that I could use a little help with my rent this month until they pan out. I’ll pay you back with my next paycheck, I promise.” She paused and sighed. “It’s that or I’m moving in with you.”

The horror of that thought had Kylie seriously considering the loan. Mentally calculating the balance in her bank account, she figured that even though she couldn’t afford it, it was the only way to ensure neither of them killed the other. “I’ll help you.”

“Thanks, honey.” Her mom lifted her soda in a toast. “To us never having to be roommates.”

Kylie toasted her iced tea to that.