Page 71 of Of Literature and Lattes
“So I’ve heard.” She smiled.
“I don’t want to do that anymore. I need to do better and I thought since we should complement rather than compete, we could work together. If you’re game for something new and different, I could sell your pastries, but the kind of stuff that won’t cannibalize your sales here... And I hoped you’d even be willing to sell to me at a discount, or even wholesale.”
“Wholesale?”
“It’s a hard ask, but if we could share the profits, rather than me pay up front, it would really help me out. I’m struggling over there.” She stared at him for so long he thought he was sunk. “It’s okay if you’re not interes—”
“I have a pistachio, tarragon, and thyme scone that will knock your socks off.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “It’s incredible.”
“No. I mean about selling to me?”
“That too.”
“Okay. I have one more favor to ask...”
Minutes later, after striking a deal he suspected was too good to be true, he and Becca hit the sidewalk again. Jeremy pulled out his phone to check his email. “Perfect timing.”
“What, Daddy?”
He glanced at his daughter. Her face was covered in bright yellow sunshine icing from a sugar cookie the size of her head. “I just got an email. Let’s get the car from behind Andante and head to our final stop. We’re going to school.”
Becca threw him a hard look.
“Don’t get grumpy... I’m not leaving you there. The home economics teacher emailed me that she’s still clearing out her room and she’s got some pillows for me. Don’t you think some bright pillows will make Andante a happy place?”
Before Becca could answer, Jeremy’s phone pinged and he swiped the screen to read a text.
I’ve got a great idea for you. Call me tonight.
“What, Daddy?” Becca repeated and pulled at his shirt hem.
“Just a text from a friend, Bug. Do you remember Alyssa? She took you to the park.” He quickly texted her back that he couldn’t wait, for the idea and to see her.
It’s a date.
Her quick reply dialed his smile up a notch.
An hour later Jeremy parked his car again by Andante’s alley door. He popped his trunk as Becca leapt from the back seat, and the two of them hauled out three large black trash bags. He looked toward the coffee shop’s back door—and froze.
Becca did not. She launched herself forward. “Ryan!”
“Becca Boo!” Ryan swept the little girl high and held her aloft. His eyes remained fixed on Jeremy. “Can we talk?”
Chapter 31
The church was packed.
Margery Willliams, as far as Seth knew, had never been a demonstrative, loud, or particularly forceful woman. From all he’d heard she had been a sweet, behind-the-scenes soft light who brought a quiet joy every place she went.
When he had first met the Williamses, he suspected George’s louder gregarious personality overshadowed his wife. But the years had taught him many things, including the fact that looks can be deceiving.
He reached for Janet’s hand. She held tight and scanned the sanctuary again. Seth knew the last time she’d been inside this church was eight months before, for Maddie Carter’s funeral, and it had left her bereft. He suspected her thoughts were cast that direction as well and hoped she’d be okay.
As usual, he was wrong.
