“Olivia and I have to go the bathroom,” Ivy blurted.
Olivia hurriedly reached into her bag and found a five dollar bill. “Thank you so much, Alice,” she said, slapping the bill on the table. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks,” said Alice.
“Dad, I’ll see you in the car,” Ivy called over her shoulder as she and Olivia rushed to the ladies’ room.
The moment they were inside, Olivia peered under the stalls. They were empty. “Do you think she’s, you know,” Olivia said, “one of you?”
“This is one of our establishments, and she’s wearing black nail polish,” Ivy replied. “So yes!”
“It’s perfect,” declared Olivia. “She’s an artist—”
“And he’s artsy,” finished Ivy, sounding awed.
“I know!” squealed Olivia. “And it sounds like he even likes her art!”
“Let’s invite her over for dinner,” Ivy said quickly.
“Can we do that?” Olivia asked, but her sister was already back out the door. They crept along the bathroom hallway and peeked around the corner to see if Mr. Vega was still in the restaurant.
“He’s gone,” Ivy whispered, and together they made a beeline to where Alice was standing by the cash register.
“Hi, Alice,” they both said.
“Hi, again,” said Alice.
“I’m Ivy, and this is Olivia,” Ivy said. “That guy you were talking to—he’s my father.”
“Really?” Alice said with a glimmer in her eye. “He looks so young!”
“He’s a widower,” Olivia noted.
“Want to come over to our house tomorrow night?” Ivy offered. “You could... talk about...”
“Art?” Olivia suggested.
“Are you girls tugging my wings?” Alice said with a worried look as she twirled her dark ponytail.
Uh-oh, thought Olivia. We’re coming on too strong.
Alice’s mouth burst into a smile. “Because I’d love to!”
Chapter 4
At lunch the next day, Olivia scanned the cafeteria for her friends. She spotted Camilla and Sophia at a table by the windows, hunched over in intense conversation. Looks like they’re still conspiring! Olivia thought, grateful that her friends were continuing to take Ivy’s move so seriously.
“I think,” Camilla said loudly to Sophia as Olivia trotted up, “that the Scribe should run more editorials.”
“I disagree,” Sophia replied. “I think two is enough. Why— Hello, Olivia.”
“Hey,” said Olivia, setting down her tray. I guess they don’t have to conspire all the time, she thought to herself.
Camilla looked at her watch. “Gotta go!” she said. “I have a study session for English.”
“Me, too!” said Sophia. “I, uh...I have to go work on a piece for my art exam.”
“Really?” said Olivia, trying not to sound disappointed that she was being left alone only a few seconds after she’d sat down. “What are you doing?”