Bailey asked if she could remain behind to support Coco. Just for a few hours. I told her of course. I totally understood. As I was leaving, Deputy Appleby asked if he could have a word with me about my aunt, but Cinnamon intercepted him before we could chat, so I left. An hour later, after showering and doing something with my hair, I threw on trousers and a cute aqua sweater, downed a necessary meal of oatmeal lavished in sugar and fresh fruit—I made oatmeal once a week and reheated it in the microwave—and, with Tigger in tow, headed to work. Aunt Vera had arrived at The Cookbook Nook before me. She was already sorting money into the cash register till slots when I entered. She looked colorful in a cardinal red caftan, her hair swept up in a chignon. Her turban rested on the stool behind her. A threesome of tarot cards lay turned up on the vintage kitchen table. I didn’t take a peek, but seeing as we didn’t have any customers, I figured she was trying to read her own future.
