A few weeks later was the day Lestrade did inspections for the month. "Hello, Greg!" Molly said to her landlord. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, how are you?"
"I'm good." The small talk ensued until Greg got on with inspecting the place. He saw how, as always, it was impeccably clean and decorated with cute decorations. All of her paperwork was up to date, as always. He left the store just as Mary walked in again.
"Hello Mary," Greg greeted. He was too close to Sherlock and John to not know Mary. "You'd prefer to be here than the parlor? Can't blame you."
Mary laughed, walking through the door he held open for her. "Yes."
Sherlock's inspection was always a hassle with Sherlock complaining about having to do it, his neglect for paperwork, the place was a mess. He always got it over with in the morning. Lestrade left feeling pleased with himself, watching the two women greet one another as if they were close friends.
"Mary!" Molly greeted. She had made sure to keep the shop open in case she had decided to come back. She had been, every week. Now, however, she was about fifteen minutes early.
"Hello!" Mary paused. "I was wondering if you'd like to join us tonight for dinner. Frankly, with three people, someone ends up third wheeling. Sherlock, often. Sometimes me because they're so close. It's funny when John is the odd man out. Anyway, four is a better number."
"Really?" Molly asked. "I wouldn't want to intrude."
"No, not at all. It's going to be great. For starters, We're already friends. I think you and John will get along well, and Sherlock. Well, Sherlock, I have told her much more than is appropriate, but still. I think that you would have a lot in common, actually. Well, yeah. I would like for you two to meet," Mary told her almost a little abruptly.
"Wow, yeah, I would like that," Molly told her. What she had never told Mary was that she had a bit of a crush on Sherlock. She didn't need to, though. Mary knew.
"Great, well, I came early today because I thought that sharing a cab wouldn't be the best thing for the first time, so I was thinking that maybe we could go together and meet them. A little unconventional, but still," Mary told her.
"Perfect, yes."