Page 73 of Left Behind

“Yes, that. Will it have my name on it?” she asked.

He saw hope and expectation. “Why, I think it should, since the party is for you, right?”

She nodded, then hid her face against his neck.

Like a little turtle, Ava had retreated into her shell, and Wiley let her be. Annie Cauley was all smiles when they approached the register.

“Wiley, it’s a joy to see you,” she said. “And who is your pretty little friend?”

Ava came up for air, eyeing the lady with white hair as intently as Annie was eyeing her.

“This is our little sister, Ava. We found each other yesterday, and she’s going to be living with me now.”

Annie’s eyes widened and then softened. “There you go, being the hero all over again,” she said softly.

Wiley shook his head. “No, ma’am. Just taking care of family. We’re having a party at the house tonight so she can meet her brothers and sisters-in-law and her grandma all at once, and we need a cake.”

“I never had a cake before,” Ava said.

Annie blinked. “Well, I declare,” she said. “How old are you, Ava?”

“I’m seven.”

“And a pretty little thing you are,” Annie said, trying to hide her shock.

Wiley quickly ended the personal inquisition. “This is just another in a long line of firsts for Ava. We have decided we want a white cake with white buttercream icing. Maybe half a sheet-cake size? And could we have writing on it that says, Ava, welcome to the family’?”

Annie’s hands were shaking. “You can have whatever you like on it. Is there a color preference for the writing?”

He nodded. “Pink is the color du jour. Would it be possible to have this delivered to my house around five today? I know this is short notice but…”

“If this is her first cake ever, it’s not short notice. It’s long overdue,” Annie said. “Let me write down your address for the delivery.”

He handed her a credit card, but Annie waved it away.

“This cake is a gift from me and her uncle John. Ava, honey, from now on, you just call me Aunt Annie, like your brothers do, okay?”

Ava looked at Wiley for approval, and when he winked, she knew it was okay.

“I think you probably need a couple of cookies to take with you,” Annie said. “Ava, honey, you pick,” she said, and pointed to the sheet pan in the display case. “Sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cherry drop cookies.”

“I like peanut butter,” Ava said.

Annie scooped two peanut butter cookies from the tray into a little sack and handed them to her.

“I think we need to thank Annie for the cookies,” Wiley said.

“Thank you for the cookies,” Ava echoed.

“Enjoy, and come see me again soon, okay?”

“We will,” Wiley said, and put Ava down.

Ava had the sack of cookies in one hand, and latched on to Wiley with the other as they walked out the door.

“Lord, have mercy,” Annie muttered, then grabbed the order and headed to the back room. “Laurel, this needs to be ready and delivered to Wiley’s house by five.”

Annie’s daughter, Laurel, glanced at the order, and nodded. “Simple enough, but who’s Ava? Is Wiley finally settling down?”

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