“Jame doesn’t want to wait.”
I looked into the rearview mirror at the werewolf in the back seat. His eyes were closed, his head resting on the top of the headrest behind him, arms crossed loosely over his chest. “Do it,” he said without opening his eyes.
“Two against one,” I said. “Stay here in the Jeep, Jean, you big baby. I’ll get Yancy’s bribe so he’ll tell our future.”
I got out, shut the door, and didn’t look back. I hadn’t expected her to stay in the Jeep, but I hadn’t expected her to be so squirrely about possibly seeing Hogan at his bakery.
We both knew Hogan worked the early shift. There was no way he was there at closing.
A car door opened and then I heard boots on gravel as Jean jogged to catch up with me.
“I hate you.”
“You don’t. Hogan won’t even be here. I don’t know why you’re so worried.”
“It’s…I just need some space.”
“Wow. Did you say it to him like that?”
She chewed on her bottom lip.
“You did, didn’t you? Why, Jean? Why are you pushing him away?”
“You know why.” She squared her shoulders narrowed her eyes and was suddenly more a police officer than my goofy baby sister. “I’m done talking about this, Delaney. Let’s just get the donuts.”
We walked to the door and I glanced in. Only Gale, a retired teacher and human, was in the shop, wiping down the counter top in prep for closing in the next fifteen minutes.
We walked in and she looked up as the bell rang.
“Hey, Chief. Jean.”
“Hi, Gale.” I strolled up to the counter. “Hogan here?”
Jean tensed.
“No, just me. Do you need him for something? I could call.”
“That’s okay, we’re just here for a dozen donuts if there are any left.”
“You bet. Half off since we’ll be selling them as day-olds tomorrow. Any particular kind?”
“One of each of the filled, then just a mix of whatever else you have.”
She bent and retrieved a cute box with a puffin logo on the side, then turned and opened the glass case with tidy rows of donuts. I knew they rolled through hundreds of donuts a day, but somehow, even now at the end of a good-weather day that had probably doubled their regular business, the donuts were all neatly stacked and looked fresh and delicious.
Jean wandered the small shop, looking at the few items for sale on the shelves, glancing at the bulletin board. Her shoulders weren’t quite so stiff, although I could tell she still wasn’t happy to be here.
“Will that do it for you?” Gale asked, tucking in the ends of the box and sealing it with the puffin sticker.
“We’ll take these too.” Jean placed three lovely worry stones on top of the donut box. “And do you have anything you could wrap them in?”
“Um…let me see. Would tissue do?” The tissue was a soft blue and had lace on the corners. It was the same stuff they used on the inside of the more delicate pastries they delivered.
“Perfect.”
Gale wrapped up the stones and used a little white silk ribbon to tie a bow at the top. “Anything else?”
I looked over at Jean. “That’s it,” she said.
