A mix of high decibel “Yayyys!” gave Talia her answer, and she was flooded by an unexpected sense of relief. I haven’t lost my touch after all

“We’re hosting a masquerade fundraiser in my café tomorrow evening, can you come? In costume, of course, isn’t that fun?”

She wore the one with the “best” charm for one day, then took it off and hid it in her sock drawer. What if someone realized that nobody was wearing the “friend” charm?

What did Laya of the $300 shoes need that commission for?

If even Hiya-Naomi could tell she was stressed, customers would be able to tell too, and that would hurt her business

She took a deep breath and gave herself a Kate talk: “You can do this, Talia. You’ve done it before, you’ll do it again. Go for it, girl. Chaykie’s gym”