"Your mom knows I'm Mexican, right?"

       I rolled my eyes but nodded. I brushed at the imaginary dirt on his shoulders and noted with displeasure that he'd chosen to pop his collar today. I only sighed at that, preferring to save my energy for more important battles. "You're not nervous, are you?"

       Manny smiled down at me. "What? No. She'll love me."

       We stood on the raised sidewalk in front of the Metro Diner taking refuge from the heat under the building's characteristic green and white awnings. I'd chosen to wear a nice skirt and blouse combo, and he'd chosen a pair of dark jeans and a polo shirt with the offending collar upright. I'm starting to think he does that to irk me.

        "I'm liking the confidence." I chuckled. "You'll need it."

       His smile didn't waver. He pulled at the glass door and held it open. I walked through, giving him a sassy eye roll as I passed him.

       The temperature inside was cool, almost too chilly. It was a welcome relief to the sauna outside but maybe I should have brought a sweater. Oh well. I'd live. I looked over the smattering of tables and chairs, and booths and counters until my eyes landed on the tall, light skinned middle-aged woman perusing a thick green menu near the back.

       "Mom!" I waved from the hostess booth then weaved my way through the throng of chattering diners.

       Mom stood to her full height, a towering five-eleven and smiled. "There's my baby!" She almost always chose to dress down. She wore a simple collared shirt and some khakis, her wavy black hair was pulled back into the same low bun she'd worn since the day I met her, barring special occasions.

       When I got to her, she pulled me into a tight embrace as if I hadn't just seen her two days ago for brunch. Then she commenced with the cheek kissing and I had to wiggle my way to freedom.

       "Mom," I said as I moved some stray hairs back into place. "This is Manny."

       She sighed, her lip curling like it does when she wants to say something sarcastic. "Why are you acting like we haven't met before?"

       Manny was all business as he held out his hand. "Nice to see you again, ma'am...under better circumstances."

      She was highly amused by that but only smirked and shook his hand. "Call me Gina, young man. And that ugly business with Jackson is water under the bridge."

       "Did you order?" I asked as we sat down.

       "Just coffee. You know I have to have my coffee." From my estimate this was likely her fourth or fifth cup.

       I propped open the menu on the table in front of me, my heart set on breakfast of the eggs, hash brown, bacon, and English muffin variety despite it being one o'clock.

       When the waitress rounded her way to our table Manny ordered a coffee and I decided to try today's tea special, a sweet mango flavor that was probably terrible, but I was curious.

       A boatload of charges had been leveled at Kelli Olson, but she hadn't been to trial yet. When the detectives had told me I was aghast even though I knew she deserved every one. Murder, kidnapping, embezzling, fraud...they'd likely lock her up for a long time.

       The only charges she wasn't getting was two counts attempted murder for me and Ashley. As Detective Ibarra explained to me later, it's not that they didn't believe she planned to kill us once she got us to the second location, it's that there was no concrete proof that would get it to stick with a jury. It was already an uphill battle considering how well regarded she was.

       So, the best they could do for us was two counts of assault and counsel us to take her to court for damages once it was all over. But I was done with the whole thing and ready for my life to go back to normal as quickly as possible.

       I don't know if Ashley went for it but speaking of her, two days after the hostage situation she walked into Taste Teas with a healthy flush to her cheeks and a noticeably cheerful pep in her step.

       "Evie, I got your money." She'd said in a sing-song way.

       I can't understate how happy I was not to have to chase her down for this little bit of money. "Come with me."

       I found it distasteful to do business over other people's food, so I'd left the register to Pasha and led Ashley back to my office.

       She was all smiles when she handed me the check.

       "Thank you." I said. "And thanks for saving me back there. Not sure if I said it before."

       "Thank you." She replied before turning to go. "I don't think I would have got out of there if you hadn't called the cops."

      But I was unsettled. "Can I ask you something?"

       She turned back, still in high spirits. "Yeah?"

       "When you called me, was she there with you?"

       She had the nerve to look remorseful. "She had a gun to my head."

       "Perfectly understandable." I nodded and let her walk out without any further commentary, but my mind was made up. I didn't fuck with anyone who'd risk my life by dragging me into a dangerous conflict, gun or no gun. That meant from here on out I didn't fuck with Ashley Pham.

       "I'll have the chicken and waffles," mom said to the waitress.

       She jotted that down. "And you?" She asked Manny.

       He ordered the BLT, and I ordered my breakfast. After the waitress scuttled off somewhere the three of us fell into a semi-awkward silence.

       "Haven't met one of your boyfriends in a while." Mom said while dumping two packs of Splenda into her fifth or sixth cup of coffee. "You must be special."

       "He is." Last boyfriend I introduced to mom was Dante, and that had been back in college and that was a very serious relationship.

       She stirred her coffee without breaking eye contact with Manny. "What are your intentions with my daughter?"

       "Mom!" What is it with moms and asking about intentions?

       Manny kept his cool and set his coffee down gently. "Your daughter is an incredible woman. I don't have any intentions except to make her happy."

       To say I was touched was an understatement. True it was a little over-the-top for my cynical heart, but I felt myself smiling anyway.

       Mom looked unimpressed. She sniffed but otherwise kept her expression neutral. "So, your intention, I assume, is marriage?"

       Before I could snark 'our intentions are to eat', Manny answered in complete seriousness. "Eventually."

       I looked over at him. His back was ramrod straight, his mouth set, and his eyes boring holes into my mother, silently daring her to object.

       "You're a police detective, yes?"

        "Yes."

       She took a lingering sip of coffee. "What's the pay like?"

       I was mortified. "Mom! This is a really inappropriate lunch conversation."

       Manny waved me off. "It's okay. It's above average."

       She raised an eyebrow. "Above average? What's that mean?"

       "Would you like me to fax you proof of income?"

       "Yes. I've got to make sure you can take care of her."

       He shrugged. "Of course."

       Why does it sound like these two are negotiating a trade of one cow and two chickens for my hand? It was completely insulting...I could go for two cows at least. I've got great hair and a cute little tookus if you didn't care about volume. Yeah...I could go for two cows and five chickens. I'm worth it—I mean, you know, that's not the point!

       I am a modern woman, not some object to be traded around like it's the twelfth century and I'm a spoiled princess. I work! That means I have a say!

       I cleared my throat. "Mmkay, I don't know what you dinosaurs think you're doing but I don't appreciate you two having this conversation like I can't speak for myself or think or whatever. If I want to get married, I'll get married. And if I choose not to ever marry, I'll be the most baller spinster since Elizabeth the First."

       The two of them looked between each other, smiles cracking their faces. "She gets her sense of humor from me." Mom said with a light little laugh.

       "I see that."

       I sucked my teeth. "You two are messing with me, aren't you?"

       "Just a little."

       "Yeah, Evie. Faxing tax returns? Come on."

       "I'm not talking to either of you the rest of this meal."

       Mom tsk-ed. "She's always been so sensitive!"

       "Can dish it but can't take it, huh?"

       David came out of the whole thing mostly unscathed. They'd picked him up for questioning but he'd never been formally arrested or charged. Apparently, Kelli had spun some tale about how David was the killer but that went out the window after hostage-gate. They were concerned that he hadn't reported his gun stolen but he's rich so whatever punishment exists for it I'm sure he got a slap on the wrist if anything at all. Didn't save his marriage either way but I'm sure he's reevaluating his friends considering Kelli tried to railroad him.

       Hell, even I'd thought he did. There goes my hundred percent success rate.

       Then again, if McDonald's can pretend that slop they serve has any nutritional value I can still fudge the extent of my successes. Who would know? False advertising is the American way after all.

       As for Ro, I don't follow contact sports, but I assume he's fine. From what I understand steroids aren't that rare in professional sports anyway. Plus, I didn't care...

       Though I did Google him from time to time when I was bored to gaze upon his ungodly good looks—just don't tell Manny.

       The rest of lunch went well after they stopped teasing me. Our food came piping hot to the table and the three of us dug in. After a bit of small talk about how good the food was, we lapsed into easy conversation about what was going on in our lives. When that well ran dry, to my horror, they started talking quite enthusiastically about basketball. I tuned them out and reveled in the peace of it all. It was so nice when everyone got along.

       Eventually when they got done boring me with talk of NBA stats, they changed the subject to more generic talk. Mom even started regaling Manny with stories from my childhood. Every once and a while she'd throw me a look and smile. She liked him.

       "Fourth's coming up. Her grandmother usually throws her birthday on the Fourth since it's so close." She said once we were outside on the sidewalk. "You should swing by."

       Manny stood before her with one hand in his pocket fingering his car keys. "My family usually does something too."

       "Oh, of course. But swing by if you get the chance."

       Inviting him to Grandma's was practically a stamp of approval. We said our goodbyes. Mom hugged me and mentioned stopping by Grandma's to keep her company for a while as she and my uncles would do occasion. After that we watched mom pull out with a honk as she drove by and rejoined traffic.

       Back in Manny's pickup I sat buckled up and waiting. "Were you serious about all that marriage stuff back there?"

       He turned to look at me, his face blank. It made him look serious. "I'm getting older," he said. "And I do want to get married eventually and have kids and all that. And I do love you so the thought shouldn't surprise you."

      "But is eventually sooner or later?"

       "Sooner." Then he held up his hand to keep me from interrupting him. "Don't panic. I won't propose tomorrow but it's been almost a year and I know I want to get married eventually and I could see myself married to you."

       I stared down at the Styrofoam box full of leftover breakfast. "I'm not panicking."

       "So, marriage to me?"

       I shrugged. "Isn't the worst idea ever."

       "Not the worst idea ever. I feel so special."

       I laughed and my heart felt light as air. "I mean, I think we could definitely have a good partnership."

       "A partnership? That's a very pragmatic way to look at it."

       "As opposed to some epic romance. You know I'm not terribly romantic."

       "I know."

      "But me and you, we got something. If it's forever, well, I could be very happy with you."

       He smiled and cranked the truck. "So where to?"

       I leaned back and made a show of considering. "Mmm...let's go on vacation."

       "Just straight to the airport then?"

       "Yeah, I need a fucking break."

       "Yeah, me too."

       "These last few weeks...sheesh! I can't brew any more coffee, solve any more murders, or meet any more parents."

       "I mean, yeah...there's no more to meet."

       I looked at him and realized in horror that his father had died some time ago. "...Aw shiiiit..."

      But all he did was laugh. And by the end of it, I was laughing too.