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Gumshoe regretted dropping by Ms. Von Karma’s apartment to bring her the files she’d requested. It had seemed highly efficient in his mind, and he was sure she would rather have them on Sunday than on Monday. But when he’d called from his car to let her know he was on his way, she’d seemed less than thrilled with the idea of him stopping by. He thought he understood. She and Mr. Edgeworth were so similar he instinctually treated them the same way. He hadn’t even considered that he was unexpectedly dropping by the apartment of a young woman who probably would feel uncomfortable by his presence. Well, what’s done was done. He would drop off the files and excuse himself.
When Ms. Von Karma opened the door, she was wearing an oversized t-shirt and sweatpants. If that wasn’t a strange sight, he didn’t know what was.
“Thank you, Scruffy,” she said stiffly.
“No problem at all, sir!”
They both jolted at the sound of pots and pans banging together in the kitchen. Ms. Von Karma cringed.
“That’s, ah…Maya Fey is in town…”
“Oh, how nice! I’m surprised she isn’t staying with Wright, though, I have to say.”
Ms. Von Karma glared. “Why would she stay with him when she could stay with me?”
Gumshoe laughed. “That’s true! I’m sure a sleepover with a girlfriend is much more fun.”
She flushed, and made the face that she made when telling him off for unprofessionalism. Before she could say anything, though, Maya herself came to the door.
“Dick! I thought that was you!” She latched onto Ms. Von Karma’s side. She was wearing silk button down pajamas. Ah! Now he understood. They were wearing each other’s pajamas. It was sweet, how close female friendships could be. He decided to voice this thought.
Ms. Von Karma’s face turned stony, while Maya was overcome with giggles, which she smothered into her friend’s shoulder.
“Well, Dick, we’d love to stay and chat, but I was just gonna make Frannie her favorite pancakes.”
“How nice! I’ll be going then!”
Gumshoe whistled as he returned to his car. He was so happy for Ms. Von Karma, that she had a good friend like Maya to spend time with.
A few weeks later, Gumshoe left the supermarket with a plastic bag full of tea, excited to see his old boss. Surely this tea was nowhere near the quality Mr. Edgeworth was used to, but Gumshoe thought he’d appreciate it all the same. For all his biting sarcasm, Mr. Edgeworth was quite sentimental.
He drove to the Wright residence, where Mr. Edgeworth had taken to staying in his last few visits to the country. Gumshoe imagined it was quite a comfort to the recently disbarred attorney to have his childhood friend there. Not to mention little Trucy, what a delight that girl was.
“MISTER DETECTIVE!” Speaking of the devil, Trucy greeted him by throwing the door open and throwing her hands in the air.
He crouched down to her level and patted her on the head. “Hey there, Trucy! I’m here to see Mr. Edgeworth.”
“Come on in!” As Gumshoe made himself comfortable in the living room, she turned around to face the stairs and yelled “PAPAAAAA!”
When Mr. Edgeworth entered, and lightly scolded Trucy for yelling in the home, she turned to him wordlessly and put her arms up.
Mr. Edgeworth sighed. “Trucy, you’re too old for this.” But he picked her up all the same. They stood like that for a few minutes while chatting with Gumshoe, until Mr. Edgeworth complained about his back and they plopped onto the couch. Gumshoe’s mind reeled at having used the word “plopped” to describe Mr. Edgeworth’s actions.
“Thank you for your visit detective, and for,” he opened the plastic shopping bag, “ah, perhaps every flavor Twinings has ever produced.”
“There’s some Celestial Seasonings there too, sir!”
Trucy spoke up from where she was snuggled against Mr. Edgeworth’s side.
“Papa’s gonna teach me how to appreciate tea! He says Daddy’s been neglecting my cultural education!”
“That’s me, worst father ever,” Mr. Wright came into the living room and was met with glares from Trucy and Mr. Edgeworth. “Kidding, kidding! I know, I’m terrific!” He settled in on Trucy’s other side and rested his hand lightly on Mr. Edgeworth’s shoulder.
They were a cute bunch, the three of them. Mr. Wright was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, looking much more put together than when he wore his typical as of late track pants and hoodie. Gumshoe suspected it was Mr. Edgeworth’s influence. He could imagine him saying something like “A father has no place dressing like that, Wright!” Wright also just plain looked happier when Edgeworth was around. Gumshoe beamed.
“Penny for your thoughts, detective?”
“Oh, I was just thinking sir, how nice it is that you two guys have become such close friends again.”
Edgeworth and Wright shared twin exasperated and amused looks. Not for the first time recently, Gumshoe felt as though he was missing something.
Trucy just laughed. “Now I see what Aunt Maya meant, Mister Detective, you are funny!”