Chapter 12

The next morning found Siana outside the little cafe in the light of false dawn. She’d beat Gladys here and she’d been half convinced that no matter how early she’d gotten here she would find Gladys waiting for her. She was half convinced that the woman didn’t sleep, but as Siana shivered in the light of false dawn she realized that she was being silly, and that Gladys was just as human as the rest of them were.

Gladys wandered up as the sun was cresting the horizon, looking surprised to see Siana there. “How long have you been here, deary?”

“Well, we never discussed time, so I got here early.” Siana grinned at the other woman who was busy unlocking the door to the cafe. “I’m trying to make a good first impression.”

“Come along dear.” Gladys beckoned to Siana and led her back into the belly of the shop where there was a pair of wall ovens, a stand mixer and a pile of bakeware jumbled up on a shelf next to the sink.