Wait! She suddenly recalled the evening before, in which her mother and sister had ambushed her when she’d arrived home from her date with Joe. They had accused her of awful things. Her heart twisted as she remembered each painful detail of the heated conversation. She had told them she wasn’t going into work today. She felt conflicted about that now. If she didn’t go in, would Lori actually buck up and take her place? And if she did, could she actually be counted on to keep the case filled with baked goods for their customers? Minnie wouldn’t be happy to walk in and find Lori waiting. The two had never gotten along. Despite the age difference, Lori had never treated her with the respect she should have afforded all her elders. Instead, when forced to work at Branton’s, she had made the experience miserable for all involved. Her efforts there were half-hearted at best, as she frowned and pouted and generally complained the whole time while she was there.
