A few days later, Serenity dropped her desserts off at the donation table and went to meet her friends. They had decided to come early to the Fourth of July celebration to make sure they were able to purchase their choice of desserts. For the past two years, they didn’t arrive until almost time for the fireworks, and by that time just about everything was gone. She spotted her friends on a blanket under a large shade tree and headed in that direction.

“Hi, Serenity. Did you make another peach cobbler this year?” a woman asked as Serenity passed.

“Not this year, but I did a couple of cakes.”

“Aw, I was waiting all year to get a piece of that cobbler. That’s the only reason I’m out here in this heat this early,” she added with a laugh.

“Maybe next year.” She waved and continued to her destination. Only she got stopped four more times by people asking her what she’d made and wanting her to give them advice about one ailment or another.

“For a minute I thought I was going to have to come and rescue you,” Natasha said when Serenity finally made it. “That’s what happens when everybody loves you.”

“Or something. I don’t know why people always ask me about diagnosing some issue. I keep reminding them I’m not a doctor.”

“Maybe not, but your bedside manner is way better than any of those doctors you work with,” Dana said.

“Whatever. Where’s Terri?”

Natasha gestured. “With Jon.”

“I’m so glad he came. They look like they’re having a good time.” She had been worried about her friend’s marriage and hoped this meant they were back on track.

Dana stood. “Now that you’re here, you can save our spot while we load up on your desserts. What kind of container did you use? I don’t want to end up with one of those dry cakes somebody else made. Did you make the strawberries, too?”

Serenity shoved her playfully. “Quit talking about folks’ cakes. And yes.” Thanks to Gabriel, she had enough chocolate to last for a while. She described her containers and told them where she had placed them.

“You want me to bring you something back?”

“No. I left a couple of pieces at home for later.”

“Okay. We’ll be back.”