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Isabelle just smiled as she swung out of her twin bed against the opposite wall.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out, sis.”

Sage looked down. Isabelle had been calling Sage “sis” lately. Sage liked it. A lot.

“Seriously though…I can give you some privacy if you need to get off⁠—“

Isabelle dodged the pillow laughing as Sage laughed also.

“Okay, maybe I was…It's just that…I…well…I miss him.”

“I know. Hang in there babe. Soon”

Isabelle stood up and looked outside at the clear day and snow on Main Street.

Then she turned around and said, “Okay, come on! Mary Sue is probably ready and she and Annie are waiting.”

Sage looked at her curiously.

“Waiting for what?”

Isabelle grinned as she grabbed Sage and pulled her up.

“Nevermind. Get dressed and follow me.”

Sage laughed as she complied, and they headed downstairs to the diner.

“What the flying fuck!?”

The SUV limo was the length of a city block.

Or it felt that way. Sage stood on the sidewalk in front of the diner in the gray six am dark, her breath coming out in small white clouds, staring at the black Escalade idling at the curb.

Sage was shocked.

“What’s going on? And why are Mama and Annie not in the diner? Seriously Izzy, what’s going on?”

“That’s for us,” Isabelle said, appearing at her elbow with two coffees and a carry bag from the diner. She said it the way people said, *the sky is blue* — informational, pleasant, already moving toward the vehicle.

Sage did not move.

“That’s —” She pointed. “That’s enormous.”

“Yeah, I know. Six-passenger. We needed the room. Come on, let’s go. We're late.”

“Late for what? And why are you…”

SLAP

“Hey! Did you just slap my ass?”

“Yesssss come on! I swear, you take forever…”

Sage rubbed her sore backside as the chauffeur opened the door, expressionless.

“Fine…but this is…”

Sage got in and sat stunned.