"Emeralds," Indigo harked, lowering herself in the chair Tate held out for her. "This is the dinner you planned." She battled with her coat as her stiff fingers fumbled with the oblong buttons as her café noir optics streamed over the assorted faces situated around tables giving into boisterous conversations and good food.

Green-painted bricks, veneered tables, and white wood floors set the vibe for the upscale burger joint. The flat screens idled on football games and the jukebox in the corner vied for the attention of all the souls that braved the cold temperatures to escape cabin fever. French fries, flame-grilled meats, and barley swirled together prompting growls from empty stomachs and drools to hungry mouths.

"You rather be at some swanky joint where you pay two-fifty for an ounce of beef and four strings of green beans." Tate unbuttoned his suit coat before sitting, "Or have a hearty meal so we won't starve at the gallery."

"I don't want to get burger grease and tomato juice on my pretty shirt," She ran her fingers down her glittery, gold blouse.

"Then wear this." He unfolded the green napkin and shook it in front of her. "Tuck it in your shirt."

Indigo slapped his hand with a laugh, "I'm not wearing that. I'm not five. Are you trying to make me look stupid?"

"Me." He dramatically gasped, slinging the napkin over his thigh, "Never." He perused the green laminated menu on the square table. "You want the black-bean cheddar burger with sweet potato fries?"

She shook her head with her mouth twisted in disgust, "I know we're on this health kick but you can't come to Emerald's and get a veggie burger."

"Tsk. Tsk. Our cheat day isn't until tomorrow." He grinned while reading the menu. "You don't want to break your resolution."

"Fuck a resolution." She pointed to one of the decently described options on the menu, "I want that. The Angus cheddar burger with cayenne fries."

"Is that your final decision?" He shrugged his shoulders out of his suit coat then stood.

"Sure is."

"Okay." He slung the coat over the chair and then went to the counter.

"Wait." Indigo started but he was already too far away and the rumble of merged voices was too loud for him to hear her.

She took her phone out of her gold clutch to see if she had any missed calls or texts. She couldn't help the smile that took hold of her glossed lips at the sight of the picture on her lock screen. It was a trip to the park that was turned into a photo-opt when Greer and Thyme lost their wits around a patch of dandelions and Zane giggled entranced by the weightless, white hairs of pappus floating around them like a dense cloud.

"A thirty-minute wait." He sat down with a faint sigh.

"What'd you get?"

"Oh. Um." He scratched the corner of his mouth, sitting back and expanding his man-spread. "The Dignified Danny."

"What's that?"

"Huh?" He looked over at with the same sneaky, dumbfounded expression Thyme did every time she was caught sneaking juice past her cut-off time (greedy for juice, a tiny bladder, and being a heavy sleeper was a bad combination for her bed) or trying to stay on the computer longer than she was supposed to. "It comes with kale."

"And what else?" She asked, her eyebrows drawn together as the corner of her mouth ticked up..

"It's a—" He started.

She tapped her manicured finger on the menu, "A bison, mushroom, and bacon burger." She smugly smirked. "Who's a cheater, now?"

"I thought I'd break the rules with you." He held up his hand. "Solidarity is important in marriage."

Indigo gave him a high five, the smack of their palms being drowned out by the cackle of someone's laugh. "It's no fun being a rebel alone." She peeked at the receipt he placed on the table. "Our big appetite set us back seventy bucks. We could've made it cheaper at home?"

"That would defeat the purpose of date night." He plucked the crisped receipt off the table, folded it, and slipped it in the pocket of his slacks. "And seventy dollars isn't going to break us. I know I haven't sold a book in a few years but I'm a professor now." He winked.

"Babe, you haven't started yet." She chuckled at his enthusiasm to start the new position as a creative writing professor at Houston University. It had been a long two years of not being able to write for him and she was happy to see him get excited about work again.

"I know you're not worrying about me." He leaned closer to the table and held her hand. "Change is daunting but you know how many figures are in my savings."

"I'm not. We have enough funds to sustain more than one family." She let her thumb stroke his hand, "I just don't understand how you'd splurge on a burger but won't bail out your cousin."

"Uh," He sounded sitting back in the chair, nodding his head. "This is about Cooper."

"Yes, it's about her. She's your little cousin and she used her one phone call to call you."

"Yeah, because she thinks I've grown soft since I had children. But I haven't." He clenched his jaw, his eyes hardening as he remembered the deeds of the past.

She squinted at him; "That was years ago, Tate. You can't still hold that against her." She cocked her to the side trying to read the planes of his face but he gave off nothing. "Cooper was eighteen. A teenager, a teenager who was dealing with the divorce of her parents. Cut her some slack."

"Slack?" He spoke the word as if it was grotesque. "I trusted her and she made me look like a fool. Yeah, she was eighteen but she knew right from wrong and she has yet to apologize."

"Maybe this is a way for the both of you to work things out." Indigo scooted closer to Tate, folding her arms on the table with her eyes intently on him. "Find some common ground?"

"There's no—" He stopped; his attention went to the young woman at their table with two plates in hand. "Yes."

"A Dignified Danny and an Alabama Supreme." The emerald t-shirt and jean-clad brunette started holding up from the plates with steam radiating off the burgers and crisp fries.

"The Danny's mine." He receivedthe warm green plate from the young lady, "Thanks."

"Here you are, Mrs.," She said as she sat the other plate down in front of Indigo. Indigo gave her a closed-mouth smile while her eyes were still on Tate. "Enjoy your meal." The brunette parted with a smile and hustled back to the kitchen.

"I get what you're doing, Indie. I understand it.." He rested his elbow on the table and placed the side of his face in his hand with his back hunched. "But the Larsens aren't the Clarks but I'll call the lawyer after."

"Good."

He gave her a quick nod before dipping another fry into the spicy catsup. "Now, eat your burger. We have art to go see."

She smiled wrapping her hands around the massive burger, "Don't fake it. I know you're not in any rush to get to the gallery."

"Abstract is not my favorite." He shrugged unashamed, leveling the burger up to his mouth. "But I'll withstand anything for you."

She rolled her eyes humorously at him, "I don't know what's cheesier, you are this burger."

"The burger." He nodded to the melted cheese dripping on the plate. "The burger.

She sank her teeth into the buttered sesame seed bun, getting mustard on her mouth content that while she was filling her stomach with rich foods and enjoying magnificent art the young woman wouldn't be sitting in a cell. 

Should Tate bail her out or let her find another way out of jail?

What do you think Cooper did to lose Tate's trust in her?