Chapter 3

“H-how…?”

Maura turned to look into Natalie’s eyes, just look, starting her down. Natalie’s mouth snapped shut.

“Got it. The Maura Look.”

She couldn’t help being a little proud of that.

* * * *

The most surprising thing was that someone was there to pick them up at the airport. Maura recognized the car in the pickup lane—it was her dad’s huge red Jeep.

“He doesn’t do shit like this…” she muttered.

Natalie reached over and covered Camilla’s ears. “Not in front of the children!” she gasped in mock horror. Maura stuck her tongue out, which only made Natalie grin at her, the goofy “I’m so in love with you my brain melted” kind of grin that Maura didn’t think actually existed, before Natalie.

“Hey, cuz!”

No. Oh no. The most surprising thing was not that there was a car, but exactly who was in it.

“…Max…?”

“'Sup, cuz? And the Lady! How are you, how was the flight?”