"Hmm? Yeah. Um… I'll be right back," Louanne said, quickly excusing herself, grabbing her purse, and bolting up the stairs. She opened it and Tikki flew out.
"What is it, Tikki?"
"I think I saw another kwami! In that girl's hair!" Tikki exclaimed.
"What? Adela's?" Louanne gaped.
Tikki nodded excitedly. "We should go ask her!"
"No, no, no," Louanne replied firmly.
Tikki rolled her eyes. "Well, I need a closer view."
"That's not happening. Come on, let's go back downstairs," Louanne sighed.
She hurried back down, Tikki secure in her purse, and smiled shyly at the group. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Basil flashed a grin at Louanne.
Louanne couldn't help but keep flickering her gaze to Adela. "Uh, do you want a macaroon or something?" she asked Basil.
"Um…sure!" She fished in her purse for money.
Louanne looked relieved to do something with baking. She adored the hobby and was sure that she'd take on the shop after her parents one day. "Would you like a dozen? What flavors? You can try some samples if you like." She omitted the fact that she'd made them herself as she offered a platter of sample macaroons to Basil.
Adela wanted to scold Trixx for moving. She could have revealed them. Instead she just nodded along.
“Oh! Wow! Uh - one of each, I’ll see what I like best.” She reaches for the first one.
Louanne shook her head with a smile on her face. Each macaroon was delicately cut into quarters.
"These are really, really good," Basil admitted, finishing off her second. They were going off the plate so fast it was as though magic was at work. "Did you make these yourself?"
"Yes, but this batch isn't quite as good as the ones my parents usually bake," Louanne remarked.
"WHAT?" Basil nearly chokes. "You mean there are better ones than these? I can't cook or bake to save my life. I burn water."
Louanne giggled, then realized the girl was serious. "I can teach you. We could start with something simple," she offered, lowering the tray to let it rest on the counter. "You can try some if you like," she said to Jamie and Adela.
“Really? You’d do that?” Basil looks up.
Louanne nodded shyly. "My parents won't mind."
“Wow. Thanks.” She smiled up at Louanne.
"De rein," Louanne replied. Tikki shifted in the bag, trying to get a better view of Adela.
Jamie tilted his head a bit to the side. "Thank you," he said, reaching forward to take one. It was a lot better than he'd expected, but to be fair, all he had to go on was Ryan telling him that macaroons were horrible.
Adela grabbed a macaroon and took a bit, "Son delicioso!"
"Do you like it?" Louanne asked tentatively.
"Yeah, they're really good," Jamie said, leaning against the counter. "Could you teach me as well?"
"Sure," Louanne agreed happily.
Jamie could feel Bue shifting around in his pocket, poking him and whatnot. "Sorry, do you have a bathroom I could use?" He asked, a tired expression on his face.
Louanne nodded. She pointed to the one for customer use, which was just off to the right.
