Zoey could tell she was thinking it over.
“I’ll think about it,” she conceded.
Zoey straightened, seeing the women were staring at her in awe.
Penni swiped her glass back, tilting her in a mock salute. “Damn, Zoey, you’re good. You make me want to take singing lessons.”
She grimaced at the memory of her singing. “Please don’t.”
6
Mom,
When are you coming for a visit? Please come. I want to see you. I miss you. Don’t you miss me? If you come, I promise I won’t ask to go with you. We can go to the park or to a movie.
Dad brought me a puppy. I named him Bandit because he looks like a raccoon. Dad doesn’t like it when he jumps on my bed at night and makes him get off, but when he goes to his room, I open my door and let him sneak in to sleep with me. I love him so much. Don’t be mad, but it’s the best present I have ever gotten. I still love the stuffed rabbit, but Bandit loves me back, and I don’t feel so alone when he’s with me.
Did I tell you I got straight A’s on my report card? I’m really smart. I can do a lot of things now that I’m older. I can cook macaroni, clean the apartment, and I am responsible, too. I trained Bandit to go outside to potty, and I take him out so he doesn’t have any accidents. We’re both really, really good and quiet. We don’t make any trouble. You’ll love Bandit.
If you can’t come here, may I come and see you? I promise we’ll be so good you’ll never know we’re there. Please? Write me back soon.
I love you,
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Zoey
Zoey saw the flowers leaning against her office door as she stepped off the elevator. She loved flowers.
Bending down, she picked them up and smelled the floral fragrance of the yellow roses. Then she searched through the flowers wrapped in green paper for a card, frowning when she didn’t find one.
Opening her door, she went inside and laid them on the low table by the couch to search for a vase. Finding one in the bottom drawer of a cabinet that she kept toilet paper and hand soap in, she took it out.
Humming, she filled it with water and was arranging the flowers in the vase when Penni gave a brief knock and poked her head inside.
“You busy?” Grinning, Penni came farther into the room when she saw the flowers. “Who are the flowers from?”
Zoey laughed. “I don’t know. They were in front of my door.”
Penni plopped down on the couch, plucking through the green paper to make sure she hadn’t missed the card.
“Nosey much?” Zoey took the paper away from her to throw it away.
“I can’t help it. It’s a flaw of mine.” She shrugged, unruffled at Zoey calling her out.
“Curiosity isn’t a flaw. It expands knowledge.”
“You’re a really nice person. I like you a lot.”
“I like you, too,” she responded warmly. “I knew we were going to be friends the moment I met you. You give off really good vibes.”
“You do, too.”
Penni was one of the few friends she had that didn’t think she was crazy when she mentioned the emotional energy that she could feel surrounding people she came in contact with. When she was younger and started learning about colors, she would associate different colors with people in her life. It was when she was older that she registered that there was more to it than a child’s imagination and she had been gifted with the ability to see auras.
“Any ideas on who sent you the roses?”
Zoey was used to Penni changing the course of a conversation when her curiosity was aroused.
“No. Yellow roses mean friendship and wisdom. It could be one of my followers or a client whom I helped with a problem and they wanted to thank me.”
“Hmm… maybe. We could call the owner of the building and ask to see the video footage?”
“Don’t do that. Whoever did it wanted to show their feelings anonymously.” Zoey stared at the roses as a thought came to mind. “Do you think it could have been Stump?”
Penni looked bewildered at the mention of Stump. “Why do you think he was the one?”
“For finding Hannibal, or for helping him get his job back.”
“They aren’t from Stump.”
“You can’t be sure.”
“I nearly died having Jackal’s baby and he’s never given me flowers. Grace and Casey haven’t gotten any either. Believe me; flowers, even as a token, would never come from a Predator.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little harsh?”
“I am being nice.” Penni gave her a pitying look. “You’re too sweet to realize that men like the Predators exist. I try to see the best in everyone, but I’m smart enough to know that certain people can have a dark side. If you’re not careful, someone will take advantage of you.”