Page 9 of July (New Orleans #7)

“Oh, I know who she’s talking about.” Willa pointed to another table about twenty feet away, where on top of a crisp white tablecloth, there were at least three different kinds of baked goods with pink plates, blue napkins, and clear plastic cutlery. “She’s a pastry chef.”

“Huh?”

“That’s why she makes everything herself and it’s always amazing: she’s literally a pastry chef. She works in one of the fancy bakeries in town. In her defense, Juni probably didn’t know that to tell you.”

“So, I’m going up with my box cupcakes against an actual pastry chef?”

“Jill, I think you’re putting a little too much pressure on yourself.

It’s just a bake sale. We do these once a summer, and it’s mainly fun for the kids.

It’s not like we’re making any real money at these things.

The parents are involved, and the kids get to have a little fun at the end of the school day.

I only organize it because they’re kids, and it’s summer.

They need to get ready for their fall classes, but I also want them to have fun. ”

“ You organized this?” Jill asked.

Willa nodded at her with a smile and said, “It’s the one thing the school board lets me do since it doesn’t cost us any money, and we’re doing it during school hours when the kids are still here.”

“I should get those other cupcakes. I’ll be right back.”

“It’s time to get started anyway, so I’ll get the kids lined up and walking this direction,” Willa said.

Jill went back out to her car to get the other plates filled with unnecessary cupcakes, and when she returned, she saw that the cafeteria was a lot busier now.

There were about a hundred kids of all ages walking around the different tables filled with baked goods.

There were more parents, too. Some were handing their children money.

Others were manning the tables. It was only then that Jill realized that she hadn’t given Juni any cash to buy something for herself.

She saw her little sister eyeing the baked goods from the fancy table and quickly walked her own contribution to the other table.

She set the cupcakes down, arranged them in tight rows, and moved the baking sheet behind the table before she smiled at the woman who was manning it.

“Do I need to, like, work the table?” she checked.

“No, I’ve got it,” the woman replied with a smile. “I’m Sam’s mom, Cynthia.” She held out her hand for Jill to take.

“Hi,” Jill said, shaking it. “I’m Juni’s older sister, Jill.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Jill had no idea who Sam was or even if they were in Juni’s class, but she excused herself politely and found Juni still staring at the fancy woman’s table, practically salivating.

“Hey, uh…” Jill pulled her wallet out of her purse and, thankfully, found a five-dollar bill. “Here. Go crazy.”

“Really?” Juni asked, taking the money from her.

“Yeah. But at least buy one of the ones I spent my whole day making, despite you not needing to bring three dozen.” She lifted an eyebrow at her sister.

Juni only smiled that smile that told Jill she knew she’d been caught. Then, she looked over at the table where Jill’s cupcakes were currently sitting.

“Which ones are yours?”

“Those.” Jill pointed. “I was told chocolate and vanilla swirled icing was all the rage and that funfetti was a winner.”

“You made funfetti?” Juni asked excitedly and walked over to the table briskly. “Whoa. Cool. Mom never did this with the icing. She just spread it with a knife.”

Jill smiled, unable to contain her joy. She made her sister a little happy today. Juni picked out two cupcakes and handed Sam’s mom, Cynthia, the five-dollar bill. Cynthia gave Juni her change and the two cupcakes on a plate.

“Can I go eat these with my friends?” Juni asked.

Jill nodded, liking that Juni had said friends , and watched her run off to join a table of kids.

“She seems happy,” Willa noted.

Jill turned to smile at her, happy to see that she hadn’t lost Willa in the crowd.

“Yeah. She bought my cupcakes with the money I gave her, which I think means I just paid twice.”

Willa laughed and said, “It’s sweet that you did all this for her.”

“I don’t do enough for her. I’ve been pretty distant for most of her life,” she admitted. “We’re sixteen years apart, so not exactly close.”

Willa nodded and said, “She’s a sweet kid.”

“Yeah, she is,” Jill replied as she watched Juni squish icing between her thumb and forefinger before she stuck the whole mess into her mouth. “Hey, are you busy tonight?”

“Sorry?”

“I’m buying drinks for the friends who helped me bake all these today. You could join us, if you want,” Jill offered.

“What about Juni?”

“I’ve got a friend of mine watching her for a couple of hours,” she replied. “She and her fiancée want kids one day, and she said this was good practice.”

Willa laughed and said, “I probably shouldn’t. I’m Juni’s teacher.”

“You can’t hang out with the sister of a student?”

Willa seemed to consider and replied, “I guess there’s nothing that says I can’t.”

“Well, my other friend owns the bar, so I either get free or cheap drinks, depending on Candace’s mood. I can buy you a drink, too, if you want.”

“Yeah. Okay. I could use a night out. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah? Cool,” Jill said with a smile.

She hadn’t planned on inviting Willa out. It had just slipped out. But now that she had, and Willa had accepted, Jill was very much looking forward to it.