A small package of plastic cups.
The total made her stomach tighten, but birthdays were birthdays.
Tasha bagged everything quickly.
When Emily lifted the cake, Tasha said:
“Wait.”
Emily looked over.
Tasha disappeared from the register for several seconds and returned carrying a small package of blue birthday candles.
“I know you already bought candles.”
Emily smiled.
Tasha handed her the package.
“These sparkle.”
“I can’t take those.”
“They were damaged inventory.”
Emily looked skeptical.
“The package is perfect.”
Tasha lowered her voice.
“They are emotionally damaged.”
Emily laughed again.
“Thank you.”
“Tell Noah happy birthday.”
“I will.”
Emily began leaving.
Then stopped.
“Tasha?”
“Yeah?”
“You handled that really well.”
The young cashier’s expression changed.
The confidence disappeared for half a second.
“Thanks.”
Something in the response sounded heavier than it should.
Emily wanted to ask why.
She did not.
She had a party to reach.
She hurried toward the parking lot.
The automatic doors opened.
Heat hit her.
Her phone rang.
Her sister.
Emily answered while loading groceries.
“Tell me the children have not destroyed my house.”
Her sister laughed.
“Only spiritually.”
“What happened?”
“Someone opened the balloons.”
Emily froze.
“Why?”
“Because apparently balloons exist to be released.”
“Inside?”
“Mostly.”
Emily closed her eyes.
“Mostly?”
“Do you want the truth before or after the party?”
“After.”
“Good choice.”
Emily placed the cake carefully in the rear cargo area.
Her sister asked:
“Did you get it?”
Emily looked at the box.
“Yes.”
“Why did you say it like you just crossed enemy territory?”
Emily shut the trunk.
“I’ll tell you later.”
She drove away.
Five minutes later, back inside Harlow Market, Tasha watched the floral-blouse woman return from the bakery carrying nothing.
Marcus followed.
The woman looked furious.
“You are telling me a supermarket bakery has no other finished cakes?”
Marcus remained calm.
“We have chocolate sheet cakes.”
“I don’t want chocolate.”
“Cupcakes.”
“No.”
“We can decorate another round cake in approximately forty-five minutes.”
“I don’t have forty-five minutes.”
“Then those are the available options.”
The woman glared.
“This entire situation happened because one of your employees put reserved merchandise in the wrong place.”
“Yes.”
“So fix it.”
“We are offering to.”
“By making me wait.”
Marcus said nothing.
The woman looked toward Tasha.
She seemed to remember something.
“Your cashier was rude.”
Tasha stiffened.
Marcus glanced over.
“How?”
“She accused me of trying to take another customer’s property.”
Tasha opened her mouth.
Marcus raised one hand.
Not silencing her.
Waiting.