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Lauren, Zoe, and Annie enjoyed themselves that night at Mrs. Finch’s house, although Lauren felt guilty she wasn’t doing any actual crafting. Now that she’d finished Mitch’s hat and scarf, as well as her own, she wasn’t sure what to knit next.
Zoe showed Mrs. Finch her ashtray, which was duly admired – brown clay in a vaguely rectangular shape with a couple of lumpy bits.
“The instructor says I’m getting better,” Zoe told them all. “I haven’t shown any of you the first ashtray I made.” She shuddered.
“Not even Chris?” Lauren teased gently.
“Nope.” Zoe shook her head.
They told Mrs. Finch all about the cupcake truck and smirking Jason, Mrs. Finch seeming shocked at his audacity.
“I’m sorry I haven’t heard anything about this, girls.” She tsked. “I can’t believe all your regulars have deserted you.”
“Apart from Ms. Tobin,” Lauren replied.
“I was surprised as well,” Zoe admitted.
“People aren’t always predictable,” Mrs. Finch remarked.
Lauren and Zoe discussed what they could do on social media to improve business, Zoe volunteering to add some more posts to their café page.
After a pleasant evening, they said goodbye to Mrs. Finch.
“When are you seeing Chris again?” Lauren asked as they drove home.
“We haven’t made a date,” Zoe admitted. “He’s busy working.”
“But he came by the café the other day,” Lauren reminded her.
“Yeah.” Zoe smiled softly.
They talked about trying to come up with some new cupcake flavors for the next week the rest of the way home.
***
THE NEXT MORNING, LAUREN woke up determined to be positive, and enjoy her days off. They closed the café at lunchtime on Saturdays and didn’t re-open until Tuesday.
She had a date with Mitch that night, which was another reason to put her in a good mood.
After breakfast, the trio trooped down the hallway to the café. Ed didn’t work on Saturdays. But with the way business had been this last week, there wouldn’t have been any need for him to come in, anyway. Lauren decided to only bake two batches of treats this morning; lavender, and cinnamon swirl.
“Good choice,” Zoe praised as she watched Lauren place the pretty cupcakes into the glass case. “I can’t believe anyone would choose his cakes over yours.”
“Thanks.” Lauren smiled briefly.
Even the chug chug, grr grr, sound of the cupcake truck pulling up outside didn’t bother her as much.
“Not again,” Zoe groaned as she looked out of the window.
“We’d better open up,” Lauren said.
“Okay.” Zoe unbolted the front door.
“Brrt?” Annie sauntered over to the Please Wait to be Seated sign, as if waiting for her first customer.
“Hopefully someone will come in soon,” Lauren told her.
“Brrp.”
“Oh, look, it’s Claire and little Molly.” Zoe grinned as she pointed to the mother and daughter duo outside. Blonde-haired Claire pushed Molly in a stroller toward the café, then stopped, her attention caught by the pink truck.
“Oh no,” Lauren groaned as she watched Claire approach Jason’s truck.
“He’s not going to steal them!” Zoe raced outside.
Lauren was a little surprised that two of their favorite customers were investigating their rival. Claire usually raved about their cupcakes and coffee, and Annie and Molly seemed fascinated with each other. Maybe she should go outside for a better look.
“Pink!” she heard blonde toddler Molly squeal as she pointed at the truck.
Lauren joined Zoe outside their café.
“You can’t go over there and harangue him.” Lauren placed her hand on Zoe’s arm.
“I guess not.” Zoe said in a disgruntled manner. “I don’t want to do anything to upset Molly.”
“Good.” Lauren turned around to check on Annie, who stood in the doorway, watching the scene as well.
“Cino, cino,” Molly chanted, continuing to point at Jason, dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt, his blond hair gelled to perfection.
“Woof!” Sweet Boy poked his black and white head above the serving hatch. He wore his red collar but not the paper sign explaining how cute he was.
“Ooh, doggy!” Molly giggled.
“Do you make babycinos?” Claire asked Jason.
“No. What’s that?” He frowned.
“It’s something Lauren and Zoe make for Molly.” She gestured to her daughter in the stroller.
“We don’t do coffee,” he informed her, “but we have the best cupcakes you’ll ever try. Don’t we, Sweet Boy?” He turned to the French bulldog.
“Woof!”
“Well, I don’t know,” Claire hesitated.
“Go on,” he urged her. “I bet your daughter would like something sweet.”
“I want cino!”
“They don’t have your special drink here.” Claire bent down to Molly. “Only Lauren and Zoe have that. But they have cupcakes. I’ll give you a little of mine to try.”
“O-kay,” Molly said doubtfully.
“I’ll try a chocolate cupcake,” Claire said.
“Great choice.” Jason stuffed the treat into a pink paper bag and winked at her. “These are super popular.”
“Thanks.” Claire paid and wheeled the stroller a short distance away, halfway between the truck and the café, seeming not to realize that Lauren, Zoe, and Annie were watching.
She tore open the bag and pinched off a small mouthful. “Here, darling.” She placed the dark brown morsel into Molly’s outstretched hand.
Molly stuck it in her mouth and chewed. She chewed some more. Screwing up her face, she cried, “Yucky! Want Annie cake!” She spat out the half-eaten cake, little brown blobs dribbling down her chin. Her feet beat an angry rhythm on the stroller.
Claire looked shocked at Molly’s outburst. Lauren watched her try a piece of the cupcake, frowning in concentration. After she swallowed, she shook her head.
“You’re right, Molly. But Lauren makes the cupcakes, not Annie.”
“No, Annie cake!” She pouted at Sweet Boy. He and Jason had been watching the scene, Jason’s face impassive.
Lauren’s eyes widened as Sweet Boy slowly stuck his pinky-red tongue out at the toddler. Molly gasped at the same time.
“Mommy, doggy—” but Claire had already wheeled around to face the café and apparently didn’t see Sweet Boy’s actions.
“Did you see what Sweet Boy just did?” Zoe muttered to Lauren.
“I must apologize.” Claire wheeled to a stop outside the café door when she saw them standing there. “I shouldn’t have tried that man’s cupcakes.”
“We understand,” Lauren replied.
“Molly didn’t,” Claire said ruefully.
Lauren, Zoe, and Annie ushered in the mother and daughter, who had ceased pouting.
“Molly wants Annie’s cupcakes,” Claire told them as they all sat down at a large table. “I told her that Lauren is the one who bakes them, but she insisted on calling them Annie cakes.”
Lauren cast Annie a fond look. The silver-gray tabby sat next to Molly, allowing the little girl to give her gentle “fairy pats”. Molly beamed at the cat, her tantrum forgotten.
“Actually, Annie’s helped me mix up new creations at home,” Lauren replied.
“Annie cakes!” Molly crowed.
“Brrt!”
They all laughed.
Lauren, Zoe, and Annie spent a pleasant time with Claire and Molly. Claire’s husband had been called into the office that morning to handle a sudden crisis, so she was at a loose end. For a little while they had the café to themselves, then more customers trickled in.
“I’ll never be swayed to try that man’s cupcakes again.” Claire gestured to the bright pink truck outside. “I’m just sorry you had to see us be tempted like that.”
“Bad doggy.” Molly pointed to the truck. Sweet Boy was still at the serving hatch, looking as sweet and innocent as could be, his tongue inside his mouth.
“Maybe he scared her when he barked at her,” Claire said in a puzzled voice. “I thought it was just a friendly hello from him. But Molly isn’t used to dogs.”
“But she’s used to cats.” Zoe grinned.
They said goodbye to Claire and Molly.
“Should we have told her that Sweet Boy stuck his tongue out at Molly?” Lauren asked her cousin.
“Do you think she’d believe us? I wouldn’t have, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”