“Nope, you haven’t. It’s an old family recipe, and Louise and me are takin’ it to our graves,” she called out from behind the counter. “Glad you approve. You want to take some home for your mom and dad? I’ve made enough to feed the entire town.”

“No, thanks, I think they’re starting to watch what they eat for the next few weeks, just so they can consume all the goodies Mom will bake, but I’ll tell her you offered. Gotta run. I’ll see you later,” Lauren said. She left a ten-dollar bill under her plate and left just in time to see the lunch crowd gathering outside the diner. She hurried the two blocks to Razzle Dazzle, crossing her fingers that she’d have a few customers this afternoon. Entering through the back door, Lauren walked to the front of the store, removed her OUT TO LUNCH sign, and unlocked the door.

When she’d left for lunch earlier, a big gust of wind had blown in, causing some of the ornaments on the tree in the window to get tossed around. She made a few adjustments to a delicate glass star and a handblown, tree-shaped ornament before returning to the office to continue her research on Globalgoods.com. As far as she could tell, this man who’d changed the way most of the world shopped was truly a generous, kind man, though she would wait until she met him in person before she made up her mind. Anyone can look good on paper. Lauren had good instincts, and she trusted them. Rarely had they been wrong.

The little bell she’d hung at the entrance chimed, letting her know she finally had a customer. She hurried out of the office to greet her lone visitor.

“Madison, what in the world are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be teaching great things to all those little minds?” Lauren gave her a hug.

“Today was a half day. Yesterday, the high school and middle school had their turn, so here I am. I thought I’d check on you, see if you learned anything more from James, plus Scott told me he saw you at the store last night. Said you looked ‘distressed,’ though I’m not sure in what context. Things okay with your parents?”

Lauren sighed. “Let’s go in the office. I’ll make us a cup of tea and fill you in.”

“Sounds good,” Madison said.

Lauren put her glass kettle in the microwave and took two clean mugs, dropping a black tea bag in each. “Dad’s fine physically, Mom’s good, but I swear I had the craziest falling-out of sorts with them last night, and it continued this morning.” She filled the cups with boiling water, added sugar for Madison, and handed her the tea.

“How so?” Madison asked, seating herself on the sagging sofa.