Page 90 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Melissa collected tray after tray of empty cups and moppedaround the clogged umbrella stand. Mid-morning, Rook sent her next door to begfor a full restock of their bakery case. She blinked dazedly at the bright,clean interior of Tough Nut bakery, then relayed Rook’s message to the ladybehind the counter.
“Shake a leg, Linden!” The redheaded woman bustled into thekitchen and was back a moment later, pressing a slice of pumpkin bread intoMelissa’s hand even as she cajoled a lanky redhead and two teens—all with vividred hair and a burden of bakery boxes.
“Yes, ma’am!” they chorused.
“Lead on, Melissa,” said the man with a wink. “Can’t keepthese to ourselves!”
She held the door for them, then hurried ahead to open theone into Founders. Their arrival was met by a patter of applause. Rook’s voicecarried as he cheerfully announced, “Fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies,courtesy of our friends at Tough Nut bakery.”
The man at Melissa’s side called out, “Lemon shortbread andgingerbread will be along soon.”
Melissa watched the ensuing stampede with a smile. “You dothis often?”
“Every rainy day,” he replied. “We also turn up on snowdays, gray days, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Butespeciallyon drearyMondays.”
Nothing in his appearance or presence gave him away, but sheknew he must be Amaranthine. “You know my name …?”
“And you shall know mine!” Offering a hand, he said, “LindenHolloway, this go-around. My sister Holly’s the bossy one minding the shop. Theyoung ones doling out cookies are cousins—one from my brood, one from mybrother’s. We’re a peace-loving passel, Woodacres one and all.”
Woodacres. Like Kip. She wondered if it would be indiscreetto ask how they were related.
“Are you going to eat that?” Linden indicated the pumpkinbread still in her hand.
“Did you want it?” she offered.
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Tasty as the tidbitlooks, I’ll wager you need it more than I do. Eat up.”
Melissa mumbled appreciatively around a large bite. Thesquirrel clan’s baking was superb.
“So!” Linden lowered his voice. “You’rethe one who’skeeping our Jiminy on his toes. Had him at knifepoint, I hear!”
“Only once or twice.”
“Delighted to hear it.” His glee couldn’t have been moreobvious as he guided her to the counter, where the redheaded cousins presidedover sales—one cookie for a quarter. “The tougher the nut, the sweeter themeat.”
Before she could protest, Rook joined them. “You’ve metLinden? He speaks for the squirrel clans.”
Melissa blinked. She hadn’t realized. “SpokespersonWoodacre,” she murmured respectfully.
Linden rolled his eyes. “Dennywill do. Sorry for thedelay, Lou. Would have been here sooner, but my nephew dropped by and ate hisway through a triple batch of cookie dough before we noticed.”
It took a moment for Melissa to remember whoLouwas.He’d always be Rook to her. And she really doubted she could ever call thespokesperson for the squirrel clansDenny.
“You mean Alder?”
“None other. He’s been and gone. Work and all.” Lindenfrowned thoughtfully. “He’s a mooch, but we don’t often see him so … moody.”
“Trouble?”
“Not the dangerous kind. I suspect he’s at that age.” Lindenglanced Melissa’s way, and his lips quirked. “The raid on his mother’s kitchenprobably helped. Chocolate is considered a remedy for the lovesick soul.”
Rook’s brow furrowed. “You think he’s in love?”
“Might not be courting behavior. Asked some odd questions,though. Holly thinks it might be a reaver.” Linden pointed up. “He didn’t evenask after Jiminy, and he usually does that first thing.”
“That’s not like Kip,” Rook agreed.
Melissa’s attention snapped to. She hadn’t realized theywere talking about someone she knew.
