“Well, now,” said Bronwyn, “aren’t you kind? Thank you. I’m Bronwyn, by the way.”
“Nice ta meetcha,” he said. “I’m Jamie. I—”
“Why are you here, Jamie?” I interrupted him.
“What? Like I said, I’m on a mission of mercy. Renee heard your fiancé was in the slammer, and that youwere feeling under the weather, so she sent you a little something. That’s all. Cupcakes are like her version of chicken soup.”
“What makes her think I’m under the weather?”
“The little guy want one?” Jamie asked, holding out to Oscar a yellow cupcake piled high with purple frosting.
“No,”I intervened. “He’s on a diet.”
“Whoever heard of a pig bein’ on a diet?”
“It’s a Bay Area thing,” I said. “He’s vegan.”
“Well, ain’t that a kick in the pants? Just so’s happens these cupcakes are vegan.”
“Gluten-free, rather.” I ignored the indignant squeals emanating from the area near my feet.
“Anyway, you should take these,” Jamie said, shoving the pink box in my direction again.
“I want one!” said Selena.
“Maybe after lunch,” I insisted, taking the box from Jamie. Selena glared at me, as did Oscar.
“Seriously, Lily,” said Jamie. “Renee wouldn’t pull anything funny with these here cupcakes, if you catch my drift. These came straight off the shelves at the bakery. You’ve eaten there before.”
I had. But that was before I realized what Renee was all about.
“Please let Renee know I’ll pay her a visit soon.”
Jamie looked at me sideways. “Why’s that?”
“Just to thank her, and to check in.” I sneezed. “It’s been a while.”
“Uh-huh. ’Kay. Look, Lily.” He dropped his voice and leaned in, as though sharing a confidence. “You mind if I give you a little advice?”
“Yes, she does,” Patience answered for me. “And here’s some advice for you: I suggest you leave while you still have all your man parts, if you catchmydrift.”
And with that, Patience ducked into a changing room carrying a 1930s green-and-purple dragonfly-bead cocktail dress, and flung the curtain closed with a flourish.
“Well, here’s my advice, anyway,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s not the cupcakes you should be worried about.”
“By which you mean...?”
“Not for nothin’, but Tristan Dupree was an associate of Renee’s.”
“Is that right? In what way?”
“‘Friend’ is what I meant to say. He came to town to work with her.”
“I didn’t realize Tristan was a baker.”
“Heh.”Jamie snorted. “Good one.”
I sneezed again.
