Emma looked surprised, her mouth falling open at the introduction.
“Hi,” Emma mumbled.
“Hi Emma.” Tom held his hand out but lowered it when Emma only gave him a quick glance before looking at her feet. Tom just smiled and placed the box of muffins in Bailey’s hands. Bailey was glad Tom didn’t say anything about the snubbed handshake or push Emma. From experience Bailey knew she would open up over time, but pressing her wouldn’t help.
“Thanks for these. How come you’ve got so many leftover?”
“Oh… um… just leftovers I didn’t want to go to waste. Muffins are pretty much the extent of my baking ability so I make a lot. I was trying some new recipes and got carried away. And you know how it is. Hard to predict how many customers I’m going to get each day.”
Bailey sensed Tom was lying, or at least stretching the truth. There was no way he’d have this many leftover. There had to be over a dozen muffins in the box—or make that eight now that Cassie and Jude had gotten stuck in.
“You own the cafe?” Cassie asked, indicating the brick wall of the building with its sign announcing it was Take Two.
Tom’s smile was broad. “I do. I’ve had it for nearly a year now.”
“Awesome. I’ve only walked past the window but it looks cool inside. I love the homey vibe.”
“Thanks. It needs a lot of work but I’ve got good bones to work with.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” Cassie nodded enthusiastically. “Do you do music? It looks like the sort of place that would really draw a crowd.”
“You mean like live music?”
Cassie nodded again. “Or poetry readings. Something arty. I reckon it’d really bring people in. Something to go along with the coffee and delicious muffins, of course.”
“Of course.” Tom chuckled. “It’s an interesting idea. I’ll give it some thought.”
“Awesome. Well, hate to eat and run, but Jude and I have places to go, people to see.”
“Thank again for the food, man,” Jude said.
Tom nodded.
“Emma? Are you coming with us?” Cassie asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll just grab my book and we’ll head off then.” Cassie and Jude returned to the van.
“Hang on. You haven’t had a muffin,” Tom said to Emma, taking the box from Bailey and offering it to her.
While Emma poked around the box, Bailey rummaged in his pocket for the latest list he’d made for her. The paper listed some free websites and apps with reading games. They were pretty basic—mainly word games aimed at sounding out words. Fun but with the purpose of letting her learn.
“Here, take this. It’s just some reading games. I think you’ll like them. They should be fun. Maybe we can talk again soon?”
“Thanks, Bailey.” Emma pocketed the list and joined her friends. The three of them waved as they headed off down the street.
“So that’s her then? Emma. The one that has trouble reading?” Tom asked.
“Yeah. Dyslexia.”
“She seems very shy.”
“Uh-huh. Unlike Cassie. Those two are polar opposites.”
“You can say that again.” Tom laughed. “A bit forward but I liked her. Very friendly.”
“And her idea was pretty good, wasn’t it?”
