He cocks his head, that smile still plastered on his face. “Okay, maybe that’s too soon. I understand your hesitation. How about the end of June? Around St. John’s Day? That gives you two full months to think this through. Does that sound fair?”

“Fair?! Didn’t you hear my mother say we’re not selling?” I snap, and Mom gives my shoulder another squeeze.

“Feel free to call or email if you have any questions in the meantime,” he says, unbothered by my tone. After a quick nod at Mom, he leaves as quietly as he walked in like the wolf he is, the bells above our doors barely even making a sound.

Mom’s hand drops from my shoulder and she exhales. “Go get dressed.”

“Why? Are we going somewhere?”

“You are. Dona Selma invited you to visit her at Vozes.”

Vozes is the nonprofit community center Dona Selma runs, where they teach kids and teens many after-school programs free of charge. They also run a free day care, and Grandma and I used to volunteer there every weekend. But ever since Grandma got sick, I haven’t been back. Mom starts saying how it’s important we return to our old routines, but I’m only half listening, because through the window I see the Deals Deals guy crossing the street, making his way to Sugar.

I run to perch behind our window display, my heart pounding.

The Molinas didn’t sign the boycott list, and I’ve always wondered if they do business with Deals Deals. Knowing how awful and treacherous and selfish they are, I bet they do.

“Is he going to make the Molinas an offer, too?” I ask Mom, my breath fogging up the glass right as he steps into Sugar.

When I turn to look at her, I catch her picking his business card up, studying it, and a sudden wave of fear shoots through my body, like the card itself could hurt her.

“Mom!”

She drops the card, startled.

“Go get dressed!”

But before I can move, there’s a commotion right in front of Sugar. I whirl around in time to watch the Deals Deals lawyer scurrying out of the bakery, Seu Romário bellowing at him from the doorstep to go away. Dona Eulalia and Pedro struggle to stop Seu Romário from chasing the man all the way down the street.

“Larissa, don’t leave Dona Selma waiting.” Mom snaps her fingers to get me to focus. “Your grandmother would have hated letting Vozes down.”

“You want me to go to Vozes? Now?”

She must see the panic in my eyes, because her face softens a little. “They can’t force me to sell Salt. You understand that? I don’t want to sell Salt.”