Chapter 46

One week later

Maisy’s holdingher flute under the flow of the champagne fountain centered on Sasha and Leo’s dining room table, when Jordana flies across the room and screeches to a stop beside her.

“How?” she demands.

Maisy removes her glass with a flourish. “Can you be more specific?”

“How on earth did you charm my Bubbie so thoroughly? She’s delighted that I’m producing a podcast instead of going to Yale Law School. Delighted.”

“You got into Yale? You sure you don’t wanna?—?”

Jordana snaps her fingers. “Focus. Anyway, Ellie Prescott says it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. But seriously,” she drops her voice, “Did you drug her?”

Maisy giggles into her bubbly. “No, I didn’t drug your grandmother. I simply explained the important work that we do—that you do. And she was happier than a pig with a persimmon to know you’re making a difference.”

“Happier than a … you know what? I don’t need to know.”

“Really, you do. Pigs love persimmons. It’s their favorite fruit. If you ever find yourself needing to catch a wild pig, all you?—”

“I’m gonna stop you right there. If I ever find myself needing to catch a wild pig, I’m going to pretend I don’t need to and that’ll be that.”

“Okay, but a juicy persimmon will do the trick.”

Jordana shakes her head.

“Congratulations, graduate,” Maisy tells her.

She beams. “Thanks. And thanks for this party,” she sweeps her arms wide.

“Now, this is a joint venture between the Farley Files and your former employers. Sasha, Naya, and Will weren’t about to let you graduate without a big to-do any more than I was.”

Jordana leans in conspiratorially. “So you didn’t drug Bubbie. Did you drug my parents? They’re being positively cordial to one another. It’s okay if you did, you can tell me.”

Maisy swats at her. “Nobody drugged anybody. Sasha gave them a talking-to and laid out her expectations for appropriate behavior.”

Jordana pulls an exaggerated face. “Sasha in dragon mode with my mom and dad? I would’ve paid to see that.”

Leo spots them and makes a beeline for Jordana. “There you are. Come on, it’s time to cut the cake. The twins and Kristy Kaminski’s boys are getting antsy. If you don’t cut it soon, they might engage in self-help.”

Jordana flits away with Leo, and Maisy catches sight of Amy Marino chatting with Tia Newport and Jenna Novak over by the fireplace. She heads in their direction.

“Nice party,” Amy says. “Jordana has a lot of interesting friends.”

Maisy surveys the eclectic crowd. “I suppose she does. And she’s always expanding her circle. I just wish Chloe and her family could have made the trip.”

“Me, too,” Amy says with a wistful smile. “But I know they had a video call with Jordana earlier to congratulate her and catch up.”

Jenna claps her hands together, “Ooh, she’s cutting the cake!” She turns to the rest of them, “Naya told me Leo made it himself. It’s a four-layer dark chocolate-peanut butter chiffon cake.”

“Well, I don’t want to miss that,” Amy exclaims.

“You two go ahead. I need to talk to Tia for a minute. We’ll catch up with you,” Maisy tells them.

“Save me a piece,” Tia calls after them. “A generous slice.”

“This won’t take long,” Maisy promises. “Chloe gave me something before she left, and she asked me to make sure it made its way to you.”

“Okay.” Tia leans against the mantle and gives Maisy a curious look.

Maisy reaches into the pocket of her dress (her dress has pockets!) and carefully removes a brilliant diamond stud earring. She turns over Tia’s hand and presses it into her palm.

“This is Andre’s,” Tia whispers.

“Yes. He gave it to Chloe that night in the woods. He asked for her phone number and she gave it to him, then asked if he was really going to use it. In response, he took out his earring and gave to her. He told her now he had to, because she had his earring. I guess it was his version of leaving his sweater in the guy’s car.”

Tia starts to laugh, softly at first, and then the chuckle blooms into a full-bodied joyful cackle. “That boy always was a sweet talker. He could charm the skin right off a snake.”

Maisy tilts her head for a second, then grins. “I knew I liked you.”