Page 9 of Courage, Dear Heart

He nods at me and steps back. I pat my empty pockets, looking for money for a tip.

His hand comes up. “No need. Got tipped already. Good tip, too.”

I lock the door again and engage the alarm, peering into the box through the clear cutout on the top. A frenzy of colors inside. “Cupcakes? Who would send me cupcakes?”

Once upstairs, I set the box on the table and open it. A dozen cupcakes, each unique and beautifully iced with colorful flowers—roses, sunflowers, carnations, and daisies—greet me.

I find two cards tucked inside. I open the first card and recognize the logo from an expensive custom bakery in Manhattan. It lists the flavors, three of each: Vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, and carrot cake.

I open the envelope for the second card and find a masculine handwritten note inside.

Dear Jillian,

I didn’t mean to offend or cause you pain.

Please accept these cupcakes as a peace offering. I will check myself into the hospital and have my foot surgically removed from my mouth.

ElliottFoster

Is this guy for real? Who does this? I laugh at the last line. He couldn’t have known about CJ. A dull ache settles in my chest as the smile leaves my face. I replay the scene in my head, wincing at the way I reacted. A prickle of shame creeps up my neck, and I wish I could rewind, smooth over my jagged edges. My throat tightens, guilt, my old friend, wrapping around it like a noose.

Daisy squawks and saves me from my own thoughts. I remove the cover from her cage and open the door so she can leave it if she wants. She flies around the room once and lands on the back of a chair. Tilts her head while checking the contents of the box.

I give her a scratch behind her ear, the way she likes. “Look, aren’t they pretty?”

“Pretty,”she repeats.

“What should I do, Daisy?” Now I’m the one who owes him an apology. Not that I’ll have the chance. I doubt he’ll ever order from me again.

Daisy squawks again. Looks at me like I’m an idiot.“Silly girl.”She throws the phrase I often say to her back at me.

Jamie comes into the kitchen, rubbing sleep off his eyes as I text Sheila to confirm the time to meet her this morning.

I smile. “Hey, bud. Are you hungry?”

He nods, eyes barely open.

“Did you brush your teeth?”

Another unenthusiastic nod.

“Would you like to have cupcakes for breakfast?”

He stops, eyes wide now, sleepiness gone.

“Come on, you can have first pick. We have vanilla,chocolate, and?—”

He rushes to the table and pulls a chair back so fast it nearly topples over.

“Easy there, buddy.” I move the box closer to him.

Jamie kneels on the chair, half of his small body over the table. He points at a vanilla sunflower cupcake.

“Good choice. Sit back and I’ll get you a plate and some milk.”

He raises his hand, two fingers up.

“Yes, you can have two, but eat one first, and if you’re still hungry, you can have another. We can save the rest for later. Guess what? I talked to Sheila and we’re meeting her at the park in an hour.”

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