Reggie walked into Wrap Around the Clock, more for ideas than to buy something. She needed a heavier paper than regular wrapping paper, but it also had to be food-grade.

The store had a huge selection of wrapping paper—some precut and ready to take home, others in thick rolls, allowing the customer to buy as little as two feet or as much as a hundred feet. There were sections for birthdays, weddings and, of course, Christmas.

“Can I help you?” Camryn Neff was a couple of years younger than Reggie, so they hadn’t run in the same social circles at school. The Camryn Reggie remembered was an attractive, outgoing redhead with an easy smile, but the woman in front of her was pale, with swollen eyes and a trembling mouth.

“Are you all right?” Reggie asked.

Camryn tried to smile. “Sorry. I’m having a bad day.” She waved her hand, then wiped her tears. “We’re getting close to Christmas, and my mom hasn’t been gone that long. Sometimes it’s hard.”

Her voice cracked on the last word. Reggie instinctively moved close and hugged her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “This has to be such a huge shock. Dealing with the loss of your mom, raising your younger sisters. Of course you’re overwhelmed.”

Camryn nodded. “Thanks. Most days I’m fine, or as close to fine as I can get.” She drew in a breath and exhaled. “Okay, I’m going to get through the rest of our conversation without breaking down. Tell me what you need.”

“How about the next time we invite you for a girls’ night, you join us?”

“Paisley already talked to me about the service project in a couple of nights. I’ll be there.”

“Good. I look forward to us hanging out. Okay, I’m actually not sure what I’m looking for.” Reggie lowered her voice. “You know the hand pies at Judy’s?”

“Of course. They’re our favorite dinner at least twice a week.”

“They’re delicious but messy. Even with bakery tissue and a napkin, the filling can get all over.”

“I stained my favorite sweater with berry juice.”

“I’ve been wondering if there was a way to create a simple pie holder. You know, like the little cardboard boxes French fries come in. Some of the fast food places use something similar for their desserts, but they wouldn’t work for Judy’s hand pies. The shape is all wrong. I want something inexpensive and food-safe. A heavy paper of some kind, folded. I don’t know. At this point, I’m just playing.”

“We have a lot of paper choices,” Camryn told her. “I have no idea if they’re food-safe. How would you even find out?”

“I’m working on that. In the meantime, I thought I would try different weights of paper and use Play-Doh to simulate the pies.”