They’d grieved together, she remembered. Hard, hard times. But the grief and the hard had acted as another kind of glue, fusing them together.

She’d moved in with Parker, Laurel thought, and had never really, not seriously, looked back. And Del had always been there, handling details that had whizzed right by her. She’d understood it, she thought now, but had she given him credit for it?

She glanced over as someone came in the door. The young couple held hands, looked happy. Looked familiar, Laurel realized.

“Cassie?” She’d made them her Bridal Lace cake in the spring. “Hi. And ...” Shit, what was the groom’s name?

“Laurel? Hello!” Cassie held out a friendly hand. “It’s wonderful to see you. Zack and I were just showing our wedding pictures to some friends the other night, and talking about how we’re looking forward to Fran and Michael’s wedding in a couple months at your place. I can’t wait to see what you do for them.”

If she’d been Parker, she’d remember precisely who Fran and Michael were, and all the details of the wedding confirmed so far.

Since she wasn’t Parker, Laurel just smiled. “I hope they’re as happy as you two look.”

“I don’t know if they could be, because we’re flying.”

“About to buy our first house,” Zack told her.

“Congratulations.”

“It’s wonderful and scary, and oh, Dara. Everyone’s right on time.”

Laurel supposed Annie had given Dara the signal, and turned to say her hellos.

“Oh, that cake.” With a laugh, Dara gave Laurel a quick hug. “It was so cute—and so delicious.”

“How’s the baby?”

“Wonderful. I’ve got several hundred baby pictures I could show you if you don’t make a quick escape.”

“I’d love to see baby pictures,” Cassie said. “I love babies,” she added with a wistful look at Zack.

“House first, then baby.”

“I can help you with the first part. Come right on back.” Dara gave Laurel a wink, then led the clients off.

Laurel heard Annie’s phone ring again—busy place—and decided she’d just slip out. Even as she had the thought, she heard Del’s voice.

“Try not to worry. You’ve done everything right, and I’m going to do everything I can to get this resolved quickly.”

“I’m so grateful. Mr. Brown, I don’t know what I’d do without your help. It’s all so ...”The woman’s voice broke.

Though Laurel stepped back, she caught a glimpse of Del and his client, and the way Del put an arm around the woman’s shoulders as she struggled with tears.

“I’m sorry. I thought I got all that out in your office.”

“Don’t be sorry. I want you to go home and try to put this out of your mind.”