Page 5 of Beyond Redemption

“If it’s okay,” Livvy said, blushing.

“I like Bodhi,” Thomas said. “He’s a gentle giant and seems to have a bright future. He didn’t even need the basketball scholarship, the kid’s brilliant. On track to be a Physician’s Assistant, and he’s good to you. As long as that doesn’t change, I’ll continue to tolerate him.”

“Thanks,” Livvy said, feigning annoyance for only a fraction of a second.

“I thought Thomas was tall,” I teased. “Bodhi’s what? 6’7”?”

“And a half. He likes to add the half.” Livvy grinned. “He suggested this morning that we celebrate my chem test. I told him only if I survive.”

“You’ll survive,” Thomas said, pulling on his jacket. “You’ve been studying nonstop.”

She laughed softly. “I’m trying. He has an away game and that conference road swing thing... whatever that is. It’s two games back-to-back, so he’ll be gone for five days. He wants to celebrate before he leaves. He says he doesn’t want to be away from me that long.” She laughed. “But he also said he’s already packed.”

“He can be both,” I said. “And I think it’s sweet. He juggles school, basketball, and still prioritizes time for you. That alone says a lot about his intentions.”

She smiled, glancing at Stella. “It’s funny how life lines up. Sunny dragged me to that game on the one night I wasn’t buried in homework, Bodhi saw Sunny in the stands and then me, and now here we are. Kind of like you and Liis. If she’d stayed in Chicago, none of this would’ve happened. I miss home, but Bodhi is the best and I have the sweetest best friend in the world.”

“Speaking of best friends, how is Sunflower?” I asked.

“She lives up to her name… bright and shiny always… but she prefers Sunny,” Livvy pointed out.

“That’s right. Sunny. My mistake,” I said with a wry smile.

“Bodhi is surprisingly grounded and mature for a kid raised by gentle-souled, sandal-wearing, kombucha-fermenting hippie types,” Thomas said. “If they smoke the devil’s lettuce, let’s not mention it to your federal agent stewards.”

“Thomas!” Livvy choked out, followed by laughter.

“I just mean that I approve. It seems you’ve picked a good one, and that says a lot about your discernment,” Thomas added, then checked his watch as if time might apologize for moving. He looked to me. “We should leave in ten.”

Ten meant five. I topped off my coffee and slipped into my heels. “Traffic should be tolerable today.”

“You said that yesterday,” he said, giving me a quick wink.

“I can’t predict accidents.” I set my keys on the island. “Thomas filled the Lexus last night. Do you have everything you need?”

“And more,” Livvy teased me. “I saw the new foldable potty seat in the baby bag yesterday. I’m going to have to start carrying two if you keep finding things to add to it.”

“Keys!” Stella said, reaching and grunting, knowing she had no hope of reaching them.

Stella pointed her spoon at me. “Mama, work?”

“Yes, baby.”

She sighed dramatically. “I come?”

“You don’t want to go to the library with Livvy and then go see Miss Katie?”

She was speaking quite a bit in English for so early in the morning, meaning she was in a good mood. She switched to broken Japanese when she was annoyed. I braced myself for the switch.

“Yes! Yibwawy! Miss Katie!”

Not today. Small victories.

Livvy wiped Stella’s face, though it was like cleaning a moving target. “We’re going to practice colors today,” she said. “In both languages.”

Stella perked up. “Shapes?”

“And shapes.”