“If Loren were home, she’d take it in.” Roxie looked around. “No mother birds dive bombing us. They say leave the babies and let the parents find them and care for them.”

“I don’t think this one will last that long. Doesn’t the mother bird know one of her babies is missing?”

Roxie took off her hat. “Put it in here and we’ll take it with us. Better than a pocket.”

Looper braced his short front legs against MJ’s thigh and yipped his suggestion.

“He thinks it’s his.”

“I know. He’d probably eat the poor thing.”

Roxie nodded. “Bassets are like that. Here, give me Looper’s leash so you can carry the hat.”

They set out again, Roxie with the two leashes. “Never a dull moment.”

“What do you have there?” Anne asked when they came in, MJ cradling the hat.

“A baby bird. Looper found it. Can I have a napkin to wrap it in? At least we can keep it warm.”

“Hey, Paula,” Anne called to a woman seated at a table in the corner, “your daughter takes in orphan animals, doesn’t she? Think she’d take on a not-even-near-fledgling bird?”

“What day is it?”

“Wednesday.”

Paula came over and looked at the nestling. “I hate to tell you but I seriously doubt that baby bird can be saved. She’s in class. I’ll leave her a message.”

“Do you have a box we can nest it in?” MJ asked.

“Do we have boxes? We always have boxes. I’ll get you one.” Anne returned with a small box and a couple of napkins.

MJ took it. “We can put it near the oven to keep it warm.”

Anne rolled her eyes. “The health department does an inspection and we’re toast.”

Paula assured her, “I’m sure Lacey will stop on her way home and pick it up. I’ll bribe her with a latte.”

“The things we do for our friends.” Anne handed Roxie her latte. “Any rolls or…?”

“Cinnamon buns are tomorrow, right?”

“And orange glory on Friday. I could make you cinnamon toast on bread Gary baked last night.”

MJ blew out a puff. “And here I thought I was going to get by with just a latte.” They took their coffee to their usual table under the big painting of a woman wearing a red dress. “So, when you informed people that the morning group is meeting tomorrow, did any say they were coming?”

Roxie nodded. “A few. I didn’t keep track, but enough, I think. Perhaps we should try to at least get it started.”

Anne delivered the cinnamon toast, a serving for each of them. They both inhaled deeply, letting the wonderful aroma caress them.

MJ took a bite and paused, savoring. “I was planning on it. You heard from Amalia?”

“Ginny wants to sleep all the time or at least hide out in bed.”