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caught up on the latest news. Then my intelligent brother left the room so I could gossip and chat with my BFF for a while.
    “So I guess you’re happy,” I said in a mock pouting tone.
    Robin laughed. “You could say that. Austin’s more than halfway finished building my sculpting studio, and he just decided yesterday that we might as well add on two more bedrooms and a bathroom while he’s at it.”
    “Oh, my God, your cheeks are bright pink,” I said, then lowered my voice. “Did he ask you to . . .”
    Her smile was so radiant, it almost hurt to look at her. Within seconds, tears were spilling down my cheeks. I jumped up from the bar stool and looked around in a panic.
    “Tissues are on the sink,” she said, laughing.
    “Oh, my God.” I grabbed a handful and pressed them to my eyes, then blew my nose. Then I pulled her into a tight hug. “Oh, my God, I’m so happy for you.”
    “I’m happy, too. I can’t believe it.” She laughed and cried along with me. “We’re keeping it quiet for now because I know your mom will go insane with the news. We just want to keep a low profile until everything’s worked out.”
    “What’s to work out?” I asked.
    Some of her smile diminished. “My mom.”
    My smile faded, too. Robin had plenty of issues with her mother, who hadn’t exactly won any Mother of the Year awards while Robin was growing up. In fact, she was currently spending quality time talking to the federal authorities. But back in the day when her mother had been playing the world traveler, Robin had practically lived at my house. Not that I was complaining about it. We’d had a slumber party every night for years.
    “Okay, say no more,” I said. “But when you’re ready to tell my parents, be prepared for the party of the century.”
    “I know,” she said, her smile returning full force. “We’re both dying to tell them.”
    “They’re going to be thrilled.” I gave her another hug and sat down again. I filled her in on the situation at Wanda’s house, then told her about my book-repair class at the town library.
    “Is the class filled up yet?” she asked. “I want to go.”
    “Call them tomorrow. I’m sure there’s plenty of room. It’s just a book-repair class.”
    “Not if you’re teaching it. You’re legendary around here. Didn’t you know that?”
    “Oh, shut up.”
    “I’m not kidding. Ever since you solved Abraham’s murder, people have been talking about you. In a good way, I mean.”
    “You’re very funny.”
    She shrugged. “I try to tell them what a bizarre chick you are, but they don’t want to hear it. You’re their local hero.”
    I laughed. “I’ve missed you so much.”
    “I’ve missed you, too.”
    I glanced at my watch and reluctantly stood again. “I’d better get going. I don’t want Mom and Dad to worry about me driving at night.”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow night at the library.”
    “Really? You’ll come?”
    “Of course. And I promise not to make fun of you.”
    “Thank you. I like to maintain a false air of competence in front of my students.”
    As I grabbed my purse, Austin magically reappeared. I tugged him into a hug and he laughed.
    “You told her, didn’t you?”
    “Of course I told her,” Robin said, hugging us both. “She’s my best buddy.”
    More tears threatened to fall, so I rushed through the good-byes. Once I was in my car, I allowed them to fall freely, which made the ride home a little treacherous. But I didn’t care. I was so happy for my best friend and my brother.
    Once I was parked in front of my parents’ house, I wiped my face and dried my eyes completely. After all, if my mother got the slightest whiff of what an emotional wreck I was, she would grill me mercilessly. And since it was well-established that I was the world’s worst liar, she would guess Robin and Austin’s secret in a heartbeat.
     
     
    After breakfast the next morning, Mom and I drove back to Wanda’s house. Luckily, she and my