Page 34 of Holly, Jolly, and Oh So Naughty

“I’m on admin all afternoon,” I reply. “And that isn’t as important as this.”

“Are you sure?”

I set my coat down on the counter where Lily’s own jacket is draped. “Yes. Now, do you have another broom?”

We spent the next three hours cleaning up the bakery, and we made a good dent in the carnage with the two of us. Lily assured me she’d taken enough pictures and recordings for insurance, and the police had already given her the go-ahead to sort things out. We swept the floor and carefully cleaned up all the glass and destroyed food. I tackled the shelving and ended up having to break the rest of them because the splintered wood was too dangerous to leave up. By the time the floor was clear, twenty-seven trash bags sat outside on the sidewalk for curious onlookers to gawk at, and Lily had a small smile on her face again.

“I’m so sorry,” I say as we rest on the freshly cleaned floor drinking coffee. “I can’t imagine how this must feel.”

“I’m switching between heartbroken and angry,” Lily replies. “I don’t understand why someone would do this. If it’s targeted, I can’t fathom why. And if it’s random, then… well, I also can’t fathom why.” She shakes her head. “Who could do something so horrible? I mean… all I do is bake. I make things for people. All day. Every day. Who would?—”

Her voice softens and she chokes up, lowering her head to her hand.

My heart aches for her and I can’t help myself. I gently drape my arm over her shoulder, and when she leans into me, I pull her against me.

“Whoever did this is a prick. And they’ll be caught. This town is small. That fucker can’t hide forever. And I know this hurts, but these people? The people you strive to help and feed? They’ll help you. I’m sure of it. We’ll get you back on your feet in no time.”

Lily sniffles against me and nods. “I know. I just need to feel shitty about this for a little while.”

“I know. I’ve got you.”

We stay like that, cuddled, until the coffee in my cup loses all its heat. Then Lily suddenly pulls away and scrambles to her feet.

“Shit. I have to go and collect Emma. But I was supposed to wait for the cops to come back and lock the place up until I get my door fixed.”

“Go,” I tell her, climbing to my feet. “I can watch this place for you. And I can finish with those shelves.”

“Are you sure?” Lily looks up at me with big eyes, and once again, those nervous butterflies make a fluttering return to my gut.

“Absolutely. Go. Please.”

“Thank you! I will be so fast, I swear.” Lily grabs my arm and squeezes, then she snatches up her coat from the counter and darts out the door.

I keep busy with the remainder of the cleaning, focusing on the shelving. What hasn’t been removed is beyond my skill toremove, and it looks like Lily will have to get a whole new shelving unit installed. I make a mental note to ask Margret who she used to set up the shelving in my office.

Maybe I can get them at a discount to help Lily.

As I drag the broom across the floor behind the counter, the door clatters. “Did you forget something?” I ask without looking up.

“Huh?” responds a voice that doesn’t belong to Lily.

I glance up and tense. Mark.

He stands in the middle of the shop, looking around with a frown. “What is this? Renovation?”

“Break-in.”

“At a bakery?” Mark scoffs.

“Yup. You think the cop car outside is decoration?”

Mark glances back outside, then gives me a cool look. “It’s a small town. Cops gotta park somewhere.”

Annoying logic.

“Where’s Lily?” Mark asks.

“Collecting Emma. Can I help you?”

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