I dragged her downstairs to my apartment, leaving one of the girls from the kitchen in charge of the front desk, knowing she'd be fine since I didn't have any new guests coming today. Within moments I was sitting on my sofa with Daisy at my side, Petunia between us, the pair of us retreating from an enthusiastic hug that healed everything, as far as I was concerned.

Daisy wiped at her nose with the tissue she liberated from the box on the coffee table, blowing delicately ...