“It’s okay,” Frances said, getting up.

“Where’s your mom?”

“With Scott.”

Joan did not know who Scott was, but she could figure well enough.

Frances walked toward Joan’s car, but Joan stood on the lawn for a moment.

“Your mom’s not home?”

“No, she left about a half hour ago, to go pick him up. She said to wait out here until you came.”

“Why not in the house?” Joan said.

Frances shrugged. “She locked the door when she left.”

Joan could not tell if this was as big a deal as it seemed to her.

“Are we going out to breakfast?” Frances said as she got into the front seat. “I already had Lucky Charms, but I’m still hungry.”

Joan opened her own car door and got in.

“If you want to, sure.”

Joan drove them to the diner by her apartment building and they got a table. When the food arrived, Frances scarfed down both her pancakes in about three minutes flat.

“Franny, c’mon, eat your eggs,” Joan said.

“I really don’t want to,” Frances said.

“You promised that you would,” Joan reminded her.

“I’m not hungry anymore,” Frances said.

This worked with Barbara. Joan was sure of it. “Eating an egg is not going to kill you,” she said, entirely unamused. “I don’t want you to get all hopped up on sugar and no protein.”

Frances frowned, but then she picked up her fork and began eating.

“What are we doing today?” Joan asked. “Movies or shopping?”

Frances considered her options. “How much money will I get for shopping?”

“The exact cost of a movie ticket—you know that.”

Frances nodded. “What if I said I wanted to see a movie tonight, would you take me?”

“Of course, my love. If it is okay with your mom.”

“But those tickets are more expensive.”

“Right, but that’s fine.”

“So if we go shopping now, can I have the same price as an evening movie ticket?”

Joan laughed just as Frances did. “You little trickster,” Joan said.

Frances’s eyes crinkled and she curled her shoulders up, so pleased with herself. “You did say…”

“Okay,” Joan said, pointing at her. “That trick will work this time. I’ll give you the money because I admire your moxie. But next time, I’ll be on to you.”

Frances shrugged. “It’s okay,” she said. “I want to go see a movie anyway.”

Joan laughed. “You’re going to be a lawyer when you grow up,” she said. “Or a hostage negotiator.”

“What’s a hostage negotiator?”

“Don’t worry about it. All right,” Joan said. “Which is it? Great Muppet Caper or Superman II?”

Joan did not hear Frances’s answer because she was distracted by Griff walking into the diner, headed for the counter.