Chapter 41

After the meeting, Celina called her mom and mentioned the invite to Rusty’s.

“That sounds like fun. Just go on, and Emma can stay with us tonight.”

Celina shook her head as she slid into the driver’s seat of her car. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to come and bring Emma.”

“Hmm, well, Em’s already in her pajamas, so I think we’ll skip it.”

“Then I’ll just come get her. I don’t need to be out anyway.” The clock on her dash read seven fifteen. Emma’s bedtime wasn’t for at least another hour.

“No, no. Just let her stay. We’ll have fun. Go on and tell Gabe I said hello.”

“I told you Natalie invited me,” Celina corrected, starting the car and adjusting the heat.

“Yeah, but I bet Gabe’s there, especially if he knows you’ll be there.”

Celina ignored her mother’s insinuation. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. You want to talk to her?”

Celina listened as Emma gave an excited account of a game Paw-Paw was teaching her and promised to call her again before bedtime to say