"No." She let out a sigh as she passed Dana the screwdriver. "I'm trying to be comfortable with my feelings, to keep them within reasonable limits. There are a lot of reasons for that."
"I'm looking at you, and I'm not seeing a woman who puts limits on herself."
Zoe took the light Malory held up, then clicked it smoothly onto the track. "You think I should do this."
"I think you should do what makes you happy. And sometimes doing what makes you happy is harder and scarier than doing what's safe."
Though she was a long way from certain about what would make her happy, or what was just going to scare her brainless, Zoe broke routine and picked Simon up from school.
"I thought I was going over to Mrs. Hanson's."
"I know." In a now practiced move, Zoe eased her shoulder out of the way as Moe shoved his face through the seats to greet Simon. "I called her. I wanted to talk to you."
"Am I in trouble?"
"I don't know." Brows arched, she asked, "Are you?" "No, I swear. I didn't do anything."
She parked the car, waved to Mr. Hanson, who was in his front yard raking leaves.
"Okay, then. Let's go inside and have a snack and chat."
"Moe." Loving the game, Simon piled out. "Cookie!" he shouted and laughed himself silly as Moe raced like mad for the front door.
"Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think, when Moe has to go back home, Flynn will let him come visit?"
"I bet he will." She paused at the door while Moe vibrated. "Simon, I know you want a dog of your own. Why haven't you asked me?"
"Maybe we can't afford one yet."
"Oh." On the little clutch in her heart, she opened the door and let Moe bullet toward the kitchen and cookies.
"They cost money to buy. Even if you get them from the pound, I think you have to pay something. And you gotta buy food for them and toys and stuff. And they need shots from the vet. But I'm saving up so we can get one. Maybe next year we can get one."
Not trusting her voice, Zoe nodded. She hung up her coat, and Simon's, using the time to compose herself. When she got back to the kitchen, Simon had already dumped his book bag on the floor and pulled a biscuit out of the box for the now desperate Moe.
She poured Simon a glass of milk and got out an apple to slice to keep her hands busy while she talked.
"You know I'm trying to do something important, trying to find a key."
"For the magic people."
"Yes, for the magic people. I'm trying really hard, and sometimes I think, well, today I'll find it. And others, I don't think that at all. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need help."
"Do you need me to help you?"
"In a way." She put the apple slices on a plate, added some grapes. "Bradley wants to help me, too. And the magic people told me it's important that he help."
"He's pretty smart."
"You like him a lot, don't you?"
"Uh-huh." He reached for an apple slice as she set the plate down. "You do, too, right?"
"Yes, I do. Bradley thought he might be able to help me better if we stayed at his house for a little while."