Later that night, Lani scrolled through her Facebook feed, finding a post about the woman’s murder. She cringed at the mention of an apple pie from Mad Batter poisoning her. Could they even release information like that in an ongoing investigation? Was there even proof that the pie came from their bakery?

Comments flooded in. Most of them were concerned about what they were serving their customers at the bakery and theorizing who had it out for the old woman. Lani fought the urge to respond to any of them, knowing how terrible publicity that would be toward their family’s bakery. She just had to wait until the police cleared things up.

As she laid wide-awake in her bed, with Audrey curled up at her side snoozing away, a revelation hit her. That woman never ordered an apple pie from their bakery. She couldn’t remember if anyone else did that day, but she vividly recalled the woman’s order of apple fritters that she’d eaten at their bakery. She took no sweets home with her. At least, not from their bakery.

Was it possible she ordered the poison-laced pie from another bakery? She got so fed up with Mad Batter and went elsewhere? Lani wished she could’ve seen the pie with her own eyes. What was it poisoned with? None of the reports released that, leading Lani to believe it was a key piece of evidence the police kept secret for a reason.

If she wanted something untraceable, she’d reckon the killer would’ve used arsenic in the pie to mask any bitterness. It was also the most common poison to kill someone. Thinking back on it, Lani remembered how the old woman complained about her apple fritters tasting stale. Was it possible someone had already poisoned her prior to entering their bakery? Could something have messed with her sense of taste?

Thinking about all the ways to poison someone made her wish her mom was still around to answer her morbid questions. While she was dying to Google answers, she knew it wasn’t smart to have something like that in her browser history. It would only make her look guilty if the police did arrest her or obtain a search warrant for her possessions, like her phone.

Lani barely got a wink of sleep that night. She was up fixing breakfast at the crack of dawn, humming to a favorite song as she cracked some eggs over her pan. She added some strips of bacon next, and as they sizzled, she reached over for a pack of hash browns.

Even on her day off, she didn’t mind standing over the warm stove. Cooking and baking brought her joy. And she prepared quite a lot since Casey and his son, Wyatt would be over that morning. Lani promised to babysit Wyatt while he and their father worked at the bakery.

Without mom around, Lani stepped in to help her brother care for his boy. Casey’s boyfriend, August, also contributed when he could if he wasn’t working. Sometimes Dad gave Casey more leeway with Wyatt and finding child care, since he was so adamant about Wyatt not going to daycare. Things would probably be easier when Wyatt enrolled in kindergarten.

It wasn’t long before Casey arrived with Wyatt, who wore his little blue Paw Patrol backpack. Lani served them their plates when they took their seats at the dining room table.

Sunlight peeked in from the sunflower-checkered curtains as Lani fixed her own plate. She loved mornings like these when they could eat together again, but it wasn’t like it used to be. Lani never told them about it, but she wished they could eat like a family again. It was silly. Most families didn’t eat meals together, and even when their mom was alive, she couldn’t join them for lunch or supper. But they always had breakfast together. It was their thing.

“How are you doing?” Casey asked as he crunched on his crispy bacon.

Lani shrugged, averting his inquisitive gaze. She didn’t want to worry him, not when he was getting on his own feet. “I’m alright. Just brought back a lot of old feelings when the cops came by last night.”

“Cops?” Wyatt questioned, eyeing them both curiously.

“Don’t worry, buddy. They just came to ask Aunt Lani and Grandpa some questions. Someone got hurt, and they thought they might have known something.”

Wyatt nodded, then continued eating his scrambled eggs.

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay.” Casey gave her a half-smile. “Dad still not up yet?”

“Nope, but he should be soon. Audrey’s still sleeping too.” Lani sipped her morning coffee.

Ever since Casey moved out, Audrey stayed the night more often. Sometimes, Lani just wanted to recreate the family home they once had. It felt like everyone was moving forward with their lives while she just got stuck somewhere along the way.

“How did you know it was time to move out?” Lani gripped her warm mug, taking another gulp of coffee.

“I think a lot of things played into it,” Casey said. “After the ordeal with the Rebels, I wanted to make something better for our lives. And I love August. Promise not to tell anyone this yet, okay?” Casey leaned in, lowering his voice. “We’re considering getting married before Wyatt enters school.”

“Really?” Lani’s face lit up. “Wait, who’s gonna propose?”

Casey shrugged, cheeks blooming with red. “Dunno yet. I considered doing it.”

“You deserve to be happy like this, ya know?” Lani smiled. “After all the crap with the gang and V…”

“V’s doing better,” Casey admitted. “We’ve talked a few times. I even let Wyatt speak to her on the phone, and they both love that.”

Lani’s smile faltered, but she bit down on her tongue. No need to steal her brother’s happiness. Let him savor it before that witch stole it from him again. Veronica was lucky Casey had such a kind heart. Lani never would forgive her for almost killing Wyatt while under the influence of drugs.

“That’s awesome. I’m glad she’s playing nice now,” Lani said.

“Yeah, me too. Even though she lost custody, I never wanted to keep Wyatt away from her. I just did what I felt was in his best interest. But she’s stayed clean for six months now and she seems to be doing a lot better.”

“I understand, but don’t let her suck you back in. She always knew how to make you fall for her,” Lani warned. “I’m glad she’s doing better, but just, be careful.”

A ghost of a smile lingered before Casey replied, “I know that. Things will never be the same between us, but I respect her for trying to do better for Wyatt’s sake. That’s why I let her talk to him on the phone. She’s still his mother, despite what she did. Part of me will always love her too, but not like I once did.”

Lani understood his reasoning. It was probably best to keep Veronica on his good side, but Lani didn’t trust her. Not after everything she pulled during their custody battle and the night of her arrest. A leopard doesn’t change its spots.

By the time they finished up breakfast, Mr. Lockhart made his way into the kitchen to fix himself a plate. Heavy bags clung beneath his eyes, yet he smiled and greeted them all with as much energy as his sleep-deprived self could.

Neither of them were prepared for the day Casey moved out of the house. Sometimes Lani wondered if he did it because she was so frustrated that he involved himself and their bakery with the Voiceless Rebels gang. She’d apologized for being such a hardass on him, but that guilt weighed heavily in her heart. Did she ever make him feel unwelcomed enough to leave their home?

Lani missed having Casey around. They used to take turns when cooking or even join together. When it was just her and her dad, Lani didn’t bother putting much effort into making something. If she was alone, she’d just order takeout.

Sometimes, their house no longer resembled a home. Without Mom, Casey, and Wyatt around, it seemed so empty. No toys scattered in the living room. They didn’t eat breakfast together every morning anymore. Heck, sometimes they just fixed a bowl of cereal. Lani always loved it when Wyatt came over to visit and even stay the night, but it still didn’t compare to how things used to be.

After Casey and her dad headed off for work that morning, Lani set some cartoons up on the TV for them. Just like old times.

“So, what do you wanna do today?” Lani asked, reclining back against the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table.

Wyatt glanced up at her, excitement twinkling in his brown eyes as he suggested, “Ride my bike.”

“Sure, sounds like fun.” Lani grinned. “We’ll go this afternoon, after Audrey’s awake.”

Last Christmas, they bought Wyatt a bicycle, and Casey taught him how to ride it. The last time he’d used it was at their house, so it was still in the garage.

Minutes ticked away as they watched some of Wyatt’s cartoons. It wasn’t long until boredom took a hold of him and he went to grab his crate of hot wheel cars. He dumped them out on the floor at her bare feet, ruffling through them to pluck out his favorites.

He slid them across the wooden floorboard, amazed to watch which one crossed his invisible finish line. When he cheered for the red car, Lani joined in. Wyatt kept adding cars to his race, finishing up with an ice cream truck winning first place. Apparently, the prize was endless ice cream forever. Lani chuckled at his dramatics of being a referee as he did a little victory dance.

While Wyatt continued racing his cars, Audrey finally emerged from her bedroom. Dark eyeshadow accentuated her hazel eyes and Lani found the shade quite lovely on her. Audrey twirled one of her auburn curls around her finger, letting it spring free as she made her way over to them. Silver butterfly earrings pierced her ears, which Lani bought for her birthday last month.

“What’s for breakfast?” Audrey asked. “Cuz I’m starving.”

“I left you a plate in the microwave.”

After Audrey ate, they headed out to the garage for Wyatt’s new bike. It was a beautiful autumn day, with the sun casting warmth on them and golden leaves swirling all around the yard. The breeze played with Lani’s crimson hair as they followed Wyatt on his bike down the driveway. They walked behind him as he pedaled across the sidewalk, no longer wobbling unsteadily like he did his first few attempts.

“He’s such a sweet kid,” Lani said, brushing up against Audrey. She reached down for her hand, interlocking their fingers together.

Nothing felt nicer than walking around the neighborhood with them, but that happiness was short-lived. A police cruiser crept down the street, and Lani recognized the officer from the night at the bakery. He tilted his cowboy hat at her before driving off.

Lani shivered, but she tried to hide her discomfort. She forced a smile for Wyatt and caught up to him before he reached the stop sign at the end of the sidewalk, ensuring they looked both ways before crossing. Even as they made it onto the next street, that uncanny sensation of being watched never vanished.

Were the police keeping an eye on her?