Effie shrugged. "It''s nothing. It''s not like this is the first time he''se after me." "We''ll cross that bridge when wee to it," she added, shing a wry smile.


    Shirley nodded. "True. Besides, you''ve got a rock-solid support system behind you."


    "Alright, enough of your teasing," Effie said, rising from her chair. "My shift''s over. Once you''re done dealing with Peter,e give me a hand."


    Shirley grinned and gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma''am. Your loyal servant obeys."


    With that, Shirley started walking backward out of the office, putting on an exaggeratedly obedient act.


    Effie nearly burst outughing at the sight. She shook her head, unable to hide her smile. "You clown."


    Effie made her way down to the parking garage, where Lyman was already waiting in her car.


    He nced at her as she got in, a smile ying at the corners of his mouth. "You look like you''re in a good mood."


    Still smiling, Effie began recounting Shirley''s antics,ughter bubbling out as she described the scene.


    Lyman, meanwhile, found himself distracted by the curve of Effie''s cheek. But when sheughed, he couldn''t help but smile along with her.


    "Wasn''t she ridiculous?" Effie asked, ncing over at him.


    He nodded. "Absolutely."


    Frankly, it didn''t matter what she said he''d have agreed anyway.


    Just then, Effie''s phone rang. Seeing her grandmother''s name on the screen, her mood lifted even further.


    "Grandma, we''re almost there," she said warmly.


    "Good, drive safe," her grandmother replied. After a pause, she added, "I just called to let you know-we''re out of soy sauce at home. Could you grab a bottle on your way over?"


    "Of course. Is there a particr kind you want, Grandma?"


    "Just the regr, dear. These days there are so many weird options-low-sodium, organic, reduced salt, you name it. It makes my head spin! I never know what''s what. Honestly, nothing beats the good old ssic."


    Before she could finish, there was a sudden knock at the door.


    Forgetting to hang up, Grandma called out, "Coming, just a second!"


    She opened the door with a smile-only to freeze when she saw who was standing there.


    "You?"


    Mitchell stood on the doorstep, holding a basket of fruit, grinning in an attempt to win her over. "Grandma, it''s been ages. I—"


    Before he could finish, Grandma swung the door shut with a thud, muttering, "Ages, my foot. I''d rather not see you at all."


    Mitchell''s grin faltered; he''d barely avoided getting his nose clipped by the door.


    Stubborn old bat, he thought. If it weren''t for the fact that she was Effie''s grandmother, he''d never set foot in this rundown neighborhood. The narrow streets, theck of parking, the potholes he hated everything about it. The people who lived here weren''t any better.


    That''s why, even after years of dating Effie, he could count on one hand the number of times he''d visited.


    If it weren''t for Effie, he wouldn''t be here now.


    He knocked again and tried to sound as sincere as possible. “Grandma, I brought you some peaches your favorite! And your favorite pastries! And Effie''s favorite cheesecake, too."


    Mitchell wasn''t just trying to be thoughtful; he wanted to remind Grandma that he knew Effie better than anyone.


    On the other side of the door, Grandma scoffed. As if she didn''t know exactly what he was up to—he was far too green to outsmart her.


    Suddenly, the door swung open again.


    Mitchell straightened, stering on his best ingratiating smile. "Grandma, I—"


    She cut him off coldly. "You and Effie are over. It''s done. So let it be done. Show some self-respect, will you?"