“He’s a lucky and very special young man,” Elisa said.

“He’s got you swooning over those lunches and dinners, doesn’t he?” Angela teased.

Quincy had brought enough food for all of them on the days when Angela and/or Elisa were working through their meals. He’d gotten to know both of them better, and Roni was touched that he made such efforts with the people who were important to her.

Elisa pushed to her feet and said, “He has me swooning over the way he treats Roni. Everything else he says and does comes second to that.”

“Hear, hear,” Angela said.

Elisa said, “Has Mr. Wonderful told you where he’s taking you on your date tonight?”

“Not yet, but I’ve never seen him this excited or this mysterious.” About two weeks ago, Quincy had told her he had a surprise for her, that she should dress nicely and prepare to be wowed. Didn’t he know that he wowed her every day with his thoughtfulness and unending support and love for her and everyone else in his life? They’d taken Kennedy and Lincoln out last weekend to a do-it-yourself craft shop, where the kids had made Christmas gifts for Truman and Gemma, and they’d all had a blast. Quincy had made Roni a dancer out of clay, and she’d made him a heart-shaped ornament for their tree with RONI LOVES QUINCY painted in it. With Quincy’s help, Kennedy had then made one that said KENNEDY LOVES RONI + QUINCY. Lincoln would have no part of being left out, so they’d made another that said LINCOLN LOVES BOOFUL + INCY.

“I can’t wait to hear all the details,” Elisa said. “I love a good surprise.”

“And I want to hear all the details you can’t tell Elisa,” Angela said with a wink.

As they walked out of the room to close up for the night, Elisa said, “You girls think I’m too old to enjoy a good time. Just you wait and see what you’re capable of at my age.” She hugged them both and went into her office.

“She’s hilarious…and right,” Angela said. “I know I’ll still be all over Joey until the day I die.”

“Me too. Quincy, not Joey.” She glanced at the clock, wondering how Quincy’s meeting with Simone was going. He’d gone with her to see the apartment she was moving into after the holidays. The restraining order had come through last week, and Roni had seen the relief on his face when he’d gotten the news, and he’d gone to see Simone that night to make sure she knew not to let her guard down.

“Did you decide what you’re wearing tonight?” Angela asked. “Please tell me you’re going with the over-the-knee boots.”

“I am, but not because you call them eff-me boots. I’m wearing them because they go with my black long-sleeved dress with the jagged bottom.”

“You’re wearing your body-hugging eff-me dress with the flouncy, easy-action skirt, and you won’t admit to your boots being eff-me boots?”