“I didn’t say anything until now because I wanted all of us to be together.” Jody flipped her long braids over her back. “I’m never cutting my hair because Hazel thinks my braids are like Rapunzel’s and she likes the color because it reminds her of Filly.”

Mitzi poured three cups of coffee and set them on the table. “Who is Hazel? And what filly?”

Paula helped carry the food to the table. “You’ve got my attention, too. Who are all these people?”

“Hazel is Quincy’s four-year-old daughter. Filly is a big old yellow cat whose real name is Ophelia, but Hazel calls her Filly.” Jody was the last one to sit down. “We should say grace. I’ll do it.” She bowed her head and said, “Thank you, Father, for this food, these good friends, and for knowing what’s best for us even though we fight You every step of the way. Amen.”

“Amen,” Mitzi said as she took a sip of the coffee.

“Amen,” Paula added. “Now go on.”

Jody split open a biscuit and went on to tell them a detailed account of what had happened the day before, ending with, “She cried when I left, so I promised her that I’d see her again today. We’re spending the day with her at the Dallas Zoo. I know we need to do some catch-up work with all the orders that the bridal fair brought in, but I promise to work until midnight all week to have this day off. Her mother picks her up at a McDonald’s PlayPlace at five, so we’ll have the whole day to play.”

“Well,” Paula said, her eyes twinkling. “You’ll have about six hours after that to spend with Quincy before your curfew.”

Jody held up both palms. “Okay, let me have it all right now, and get it over with. Pile on the jokes and the ‘I told you sos’ but there’s nothing between me and Quincy but that little girl. They’ll be here in an hour, and you’re going to fall in love with her just like I did.”

“And that’s why you’ve got on your best jeans and drug out your good cowboy boots?” Mitzi asked.

“I’m not wearing flip-flops to the zoo,” Jody said.

“I’m so excited for you that I’m not even going to tease you, but this brings me to my ‘you ain’t goin’ to believe this shit’ story,” Paula said between bites.

“Fairy tale, not story,” Mitzi reminded her.

Paula took a second helping of eggs. “I guess Madame Fate had something to do with my day, also. Who would you have thought I’d run into in a baby store?”

“Your sister?” Mitzi asked.