7. Emma

"Itold you so."

"I didn't believe you."

"But you do now." It wasn't a question.

"Um. Maybe?" Emma didn't want to be offensive, but Vivian's painting was… well, it looked like something out of a horror movie, to be honest. And not in a good way.

"Admit it, you totally do."

"Fine, I do. Honestly, I think you need therapy."

"I wasn't trying to paint anything creepy or disturbing! It was meant to be a tree!"

"That's as much a tree as a house cat is a flying pig."

"Don't be rude, Emma. What would Lily think?" Vivian's eyes were sparkling as she tucked the painting under her arm, facing her side so that passersby didn't see the front of the canvas. Wise of her.

"Do not bring up what Lily would think when around that horror. You had better not show that to her. It'll give her nightmares for years."

"Maybe I'll put it up in the office," Vivian teased.

"Yeah, right—and have the entire staff quit within a day."

Vivian chuckled. "I did tell you I was bad."

"Yes you did. I hope you're better with a bowling ball than a paint brush."

"Don't worry, neither of us will be getting concussions—at least not from me."

"Good to know." Emma glanced again at her painting. It was no masterpiece, but she was fairly pleased with it. She'd certainly done a better job of painting a tree than Vivian had.

"So, have you told Lily about the job shadowing yet?"

"Not yet. Actually… I was wondering if you'd want to tell her yourself—maybe over ice cream?" Emma said the few words so fast that she feared they came out garbled. She knew that Vivian had already met Lily, but asking her to go out with her and Emma now that she and Emma had agreed to date was different.

She needn't have worried. "I'd love to! I know some great ice cream places."

Emma let out a breath. "That sounds great. Perhaps we can arrange it when we get back?"

"Perfect."

"Vivian!"

Despite Emma's warnings not to be too exuberant with Vivian, Lily ran right up to her and threw her arms around Vivian's waist. Thankfully, Vivian didn't seem to think this was too much and hugged her back.

"It's good to see you again, Lily." Vivian was almost warm for once.

"I told all my friends about you and about getting to spend the day with you! They all think it's so cool." Lily was bright with enthusiasm.

Vivian chuckled. "That's great." She gestured to the board covered in brightly colored ice cream labels. "What would you like?"

"Chocolate," Lily said at once.

"Surprise, surprise," Emma muttered to Vivian, grinning. She had already told Vivian about Emma's penchant for all things chocolate.

Vivian insisted on paying for the ice cream before leading them to one of the tables.

"Really, Vivian? Pistachio flavor?" Emma smiled.

"Like you get to talk. Strawberry is so common; I'm surprised at you. For such an original person…"

"Have you even tried strawberry ice cream with chocolate-covered raspberries for a topping?"

"No, but—"

"Here." Emma silenced Vivian by putting a spoon of ice cream, complete with a chocolate-covered raspberry, into her open mouth.

Vivian made a face at her, but ate the ice cream anyway. Her expression slowly changed.

"Okay, I'll admit you have a point," she conceded once she had swallowed. "However, it's only fair that you try mine, too. I must open your eyes to the wonders of pistachio ice cream."

"Fine, but I warn you, I'm not going to like it."

Emma took the spoon of ice cream Vivian offered, grimacing as it melted in her mouth. "Ugh. I hate pistachios."

"I'm dating a weirdo," Vivian teased.

Emma had already explained to Lily that she and Vivian were dating. Lily had been ecstatic. Emma had wondered if Lily would be upset that she was dating again. However, she had carefully explained that Vivian would in no way be replacing Alison, and that Vivian knew that as well. Lily was fully on board. Lily had no real memories of Alison as she had been too young when she died. It had been so very painful for Emma and she wondered how she had gotten through the years and brought up Lily too. But, she was a positive person and she chose to focus on the joy that she had had with Alison and the wonderful person that Alison had been. Although what had happened was undoubtedly tragic, Emma always spoke positively about Lily's other mom and showed her photos and told her stories and sometimes it felt as though Alison was still there with them. Even though she wasn't.

Lily was entirely focused on her ice cream, only looking up once she had finished it. "Vivian, can I come and work shadow you, please? Mom said we could talk about it today."

"Your mom has already talked to me about it, and I'd be happy to have you job shadow me, Lily."

It was a good thing Lily's ice cream was already finished, or it would have caused much more of a mess than it did when Lily upended it as she leaped up and ran around the table to hug Vivian.

Emma watched them, her face hurting from how hard she was smiling.

She thought that this was going to work out just fine.