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“Good to see you, Maria,” Luke said.
“You as well. I’ll need to book a meeting with you next week. I’ve already got a few potential resumes for the website upgrade.”
“Good. You can book it with Jane. She has my schedule.”
“You bet. Good night, you two.”
“Night.”
Maria walked away as Jane busied herself, closing her laptop and grabbing her purse. She gave Luke a look of panic as soon as Maria disappeared, and Luke said, “It’s fine, Jane.”
“It isn’t fine. I can’t lie worth shit.”
“That’s for sure,” he said with a small grin. “You need to work on not looking so guilty.”
She glared at him. “It’s not funny.”
“It’s kind of funny,” he said. “Don’t worry, she didn’t suspect anything.”
Jane pulled on her jacket. “I think she did.”
“She didn’t,” Luke said. “Amy said you were going to visit Mama J?”
“Yes. Is everything okay with Amy?”
He nodded. “She just had the chance to go to a concert.”
“I really can take the bus,” Jane said. “I’m not expecting you to -”
“I don’t mind. After we visit Mama J’s, we’ll go for dinner. Do you like Thai food?”
“I do,” she said.
“Good.”
She gave him an odd look, and he arched his eyebrow at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“All right. Let’s go visit with Mama J.”
* * *
“Is she sleeping?” Luke whispered.
“I’ll check,” Jane said.
Mama J was sitting in her chair by the window with her eyes closed. Her frail body was slumped over, and he followed Jane as she hurried across the room.
“Mama J?” Jane touched her shoulder. Josephine lifted her head and squinted blearily at her.
“Hi there.” Jane pulled up a second chair and sat in front of her foster mother. Their knees touched, and Jane stroked Mama J’s thigh as Luke sat on the edge of the bed.
“Did you have a good day?” Jane asked.
“Who are you?” Mama J said in a quavering voice.
Sorrow crossed Jane’s face. Luke suddenly wanted to pick her up and carry her out of the room. She didn’t deserve this kind of hell.
