Don't think about what you'll do after you find Jane and the boys. Wait until you see them or you'll drive yourself crazy until then, Ginny told herself, the nervousness over actually being reunited with her siblings making her mouth dry.

Both young women moaned throatily as they inhaled the scent of fresh baked bread, strong coffee, and cinnamon when the back door opened. "Lord, have mercy. I think I'm gonna pass out," Ginny muttered.

"Not before me," Lindsay murmured back, her eyes sliding closed in pleasure.

"C'mon in. My husband should be here any minute. The old fool is already ten minutes late."Ester's salt and pepper hair was covered with a fine layer of bread flour and her forehead and slightly hairy upper lip glistened with perspiration, which served only to attract more flour."These are what we give to the children," she said proudly, pointing a finger that had dough jammed beneath the fingernail towards three large cloth sacks. The bags bulged with rolls, pastries, and loaves of bread and sat just inside the back door, waiting for delivery.

Lindsay's stomach growled loudly and her skilled fingers itched to snitch something for breakfast. She was an orphan wasn't she? Would it be so wrong snitch a roll or three? God, she anguished mentally. Not stealing is bullshit! How does Ginny stand it? Lindsay glanced up and caught Ginny eyeing the bags wistfully. She suddenly felt a little better about her moment of weakness when her friend sighed piteously. It was an acknowledgment of the abject temptation before them.

Ester left them waiting in the back room while she shuffled behind to put the finishing touches to her display of sweet rolls.

A loud meeeeeoowwwwwww drew both young women's attention to the floor, where an enormous, fat, orange-and-white tabby cat stood up from her spot on a blanket in the corner and arched her back, stretching languidly. When she was finished, she plopped back down as though the exertion of standing for those few seconds had been too much for her.

"Awwww," Ginny cooed, recalling her long-dead childhood pet, who, except for the size, reminded her very much of this cat."I wish I could have her."

Lindsay stuffed her hands in her pockets, more than a little surprised. Rocking back on her heels, she wrinkled her nose."Really? They're not nearly as tasty as they look."

Ginny's head snapped sideways and her mouth dropped open. "What?"

"I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it? They look like they'd be all juicy and tender. But they're actually stringy and greasy."

"W...wh...what's wrong with you?" Ginny sputtered, placing herself between Lindsay and the fat cat. "I don't want to eat her!"

"Oh." Lindsay smiled brightly, glad she'd convinced her."Good choice. They're really nasty." She narrowed her eyes at some far tastier prey, and a low growl erupted from the back of her throat."How about we go for those rolls instead?"She took a step closer to the bags.

Just then Ester walked into the storeroom, brushing the excess flour off her apron. Impatiently, her gaze flicked around the small room."He's not here yet?" She threw her hands in the air."I knew that old mule would be nothing but trouble!"

"Mule?" Ginny inquired curiously, wondering if Ester was referring to her husband or an actual animal.

"We bought a new one last week and George, my husband, can't control the nag. He's probably half way to Buffalo right now with the money for the cash register."Ester grabbed her coat from a hook on the back door."I have to find that fool man."She wrung her hands nervously."We're opening in five minutes."

Ester was about to shoo Ginny and Lindsay outside when Ginny piped up, "We'll wait here and tell the customers that you'll be right back."She gave Ester her best pleading look."We wait exceptionally well."

Ester shook her head 'no' and Ginny's heart sank. It was freezing out this morning."I'm sorry but-"

"Or we could stand out front and tell them sewer rats and cockroaches ate all your meat and that's the reason the store is closed. Because you're out buying more," Lindsay supplied helpfully, lifting a sassy, single eyebrow and pinning Ester with a determined look.

Ginny stifled a gasp with her hand.

Ester didn't.

Lindsay hitched her hands onto narrow hips, seeing no reason to mess around with this woman. The bad weather had passed for the moment and they could always find the orphanage on their own."Well? Are we staying or are you booting us out into the snow?"

Ester debated with herself for a moment, then exhaled explosively."Fine. You," this directed solely at Ginny, "look like the honest sort."Her eyes drifted back to Lindsay."You, don't touch anything. Everything is counted. Everything."

Lindsay rolled her eyes and walked out of the storeroom into the deli to get a cup of coffee."Can't count that, can you, ya skinflint old biddy," she grumbled, her arms crossed grumpily over her chest.

Ginny smiled weakly, not approving of Lindsay's methods, but not stupid enough to want to be out in the cold a second longer than she had to be. Besides, Ester looked too preoccupied with what had happened to her husband and their money to really be too upset.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," the middle-aged woman said as she bustled out the back door.

"Okay. Goodb-" The slamming door abruptly cut Ginny off."That was rude."But there was no one in the storeroom to hear her. Taking off her coat and gently rubbing together hands that were still achy from the cold, she padded back to the front of the store.

Lindsay was sitting at the table, her eyes closed, coat and hat off, and feet propped up on the table as she sipped a steaming cup of coffee. She ran her fingers through her tousled hair and didn't bother to open her eyes when she heard Ginny's soft footsteps."Don't say it," Lindsay warned as she took another drink."I'm not sorry for taking the coffee. That grumpy old bi-"

"Lindsay-?"

"What does she mean you look like the honest sort?" Lindsay ranted."What about merit's not like she even knows me."

"Lindsay-?"

"What?" Lindsay answered a little defensively.

"Where are the cups?"

"Oh." There was a pause then Lindsay smiled. Okay, so her friend was honest but not a Saint. She could live with that."Behind that counter next to the pickled eggs."

Ginny sighed."Great. Because I feel like a train ran over me. Don't get me wrong, sleeping plastered to your body is far from a chore," she said innocently, her back to Lindsay as she poured herself a cup, "but a bed would be a lot more comfortable."

An image of her and Ginny tangled together in a big soft bed, completely naked, flashed through Lindsay's mind, causing a scarlet blush to erupt on her neck and face and her heart to skip a beat. Her feet slipped off the tabletop and landed onto the floor with a solid thud. God! She blinked several times quickly, trying to rid her mind of the shocking thought.

Ginny turned, a small white cup cradled in both hands. Her eyes lifted and she blinked at the startled look on Lindsay's face."Wh... Lindsay?"She rushed across the room, setting her mug down hastily as she cupped Lindsay's flushed cheeks."Are you all right?"She searched her face worriedly. "You didn't burn yourself, did you?"

Lindsay shook her head no and hastily stood up, moving to the door. She already felt like a pervert, and now she felt like a guilty pervert for making Ginny worry."No," she croaked as she mentally commanded her hands to stop shaking."I'm fine. Look, a customer."

Ginny frowned, not ready to let the matter drop, but Lindsay unlocked the front door and let the man in, effectively ending their conversation.

A blast of cold air filled the room and the bell sounded as the door opened."Sorry, mac," Lindsay told the man as he walked through the door."We don't have any money for change so you'll have to come back later."

The man's dark eyebrows pulled together and he dug in his pocket, pulling out several coins."Don't need change." He held them up for Lindsay to inspect."I buy the same thing everyday."

Lindsay shrugged and sat back down, studiously avoiding Ginny's inquiring gaze."Take what you want then and leave the money on the counter."She put her feet back up.

"Lindsay," Ginny scolded."We can't do that. Ester said-"

Brown eyes rolled."Fine. You're out of luck, mister. Get out, we're closed."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Lindsay!"What was wrong with her?

"Hey," he complained."I have exact change and I'm hungry."He thrust out his bearded chin."Who are you two..." he sucked in his stomach and sniffed haughtily, "to tell me what I can or can't do? I'm one of Ester's best customers." The man's gray gaze flicked around the room as he searched for the proprietress.

Several women hustled through the front door, holding their hats on their heads and complaining about the wind and traffic. They impatiently moved to the register, ready to place their orders.

"Hey!" the man said again."I'm first in line." He moved quickly, taking his place ahead of the women, who were now squawking about his rudeness.

Half a dozen more people entered the store and Ginny's mouth dropped open."Bu..."

"I don't have all day," a woman from the line at the register called.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at her friend."This is your fault for leaving the door unlocked. You'd better not think you can sit there and drink coffee while I work," she informed Lindsay indignantly.

"I have a special order for ten loaves of rye," a man yelled.

"Wait your turn!" was the answer from several patrons.

The front door bell rang again.

Ginny put both her hands on her hips and glared at Lindsay."Well, are you going to help me?"

Lindsay shrugged, totally unconcerned."I'm really not a customer service kind of person."

"You are now."Ginny's voice was a growl.

Lindsay bit back a smile of surprise at Ginny's commanding tone and set down her coffee cup."Attention, everyone!" she yelled over the din of the anxious crowd."Anyone who doesn't have exact change, get out now."

A chorus of moans, more raucous complaints, and 'Where's Ester?' met Lindsay's words.

Ginny marched over to Lindsay and grabbed hold of her ear, lifting her out of her seat with a sharp tug.

"Ouch. Ouch. Ouch." Lindsay squawked as she tried to walk with her head bent sideways. "I'm already missing a chunk of my other ear. I want all of this one!"

"That was not nice, Potato Head."

Several customers laughed as Ginny led Lindsay behind the counter by the ear.

Frowning, Lindsay slapped away Ginny's hand."What the hell?"

The younger woman turned her back to the customers and faced an outraged Lindsay. "Are you going to be nice now?"She gave her a ghost of a wink and the tip of pink tongue poked out between her lips, letting her companion know above all that there was no malice in her actions.

"Why you... you.... Ugh."Lindsay felt her anger melt away. For a split second she was frustrated, but she knew it was no use. She sighed."Do I have a choice?"

Ginny bit her bottom lip and didn't answer, looking at Lindsay from beneath thick lashes.

Lindsay shook her head and chuckled softly, bumping hips with her companion as she moved along side her.

"Ready to be helpful?"

"Absolutely." Lindsay's answer was delivered with such sincerity and innocence that Ginny's mouth shaped a tiny O.

Lindsay's smile turned devilish."Okay." She looked out at the waiting customers."Who was first again?" She pointed to a short fat man who was standing in the middle of the line."You, right?"

Ginny covered her eyes with her hands as the crowd exploded.

"Careful what you wish for," Lindsay murmured as she reached into the bakery display case.

The next three hours passed in a frantic blur, with a long line of noisy customers packing the small bakery.

"God, I hate New Yorkers," Lindsay grumbled as she locked the door and turned the sign to 'Closed'."I don't care if they will want lunch soon; they can go somewhere else."

"I'm a New Yorker," Ginny protested as she settled heavily into a booth.

Lindsay snorted."You don't count. You still have a soul."

Ginny laughed tiredly."Where in the world is Ester?"

"Probably went and killed herself." Lindsay began rooting around behind the counter. "Can you believe those customers?" Her voice turned whiney in imitation. "I want my bread. I want my bagel."

Ginny's tone dropped and she affected her best German accent. "Vat do you meeeeean der is no rye bread, girlie?"

"I almost hit that man."

"Why do you think I stepped between you?"

Lindsay emerged from behind the counter with two plates loaded with rolls and slices of seasoned meat. The handles of two coffee cups were looped over her fingers. One of the plates was balanced atop a pot of hot coffee and the steam billowed around the plates, casting Lindsay in a cloud. She carefully set down her booty, placing the pot between them and the cups in front of them.

Ginny lifted an eyebrow at the solicitous service.

The younger woman's stomach growled as she looked from the plates to Lindsay."Payment to us for services rendered, wouldn't you say?"

Unceremoniously, Lindsay plopped down next to Ginny and kicked out her feet. A slow smile crept across her face and she reached into the pile and held up a sweet roll dripping with white icing.

Ginny blinked. "How did you-?"

"You, my friend, telegraph everything you think on your face."

Ginny paled slightly at the thought. Some of her recent mental wanderings that involved Lindsay had been confusing and unsettling and....

"I could practically hear your stomach growling every time you looked at one."

"Oh." Ginny's heart resumed beating. "Okay, that makes sense."Then, on a whim, she simply opened her mouth.

Responding to the request without thought, Lindsay fed her a bite from her own hand. When the redhead closed her eyes and moaned low and deep in pure pleasure, Lindsay felt her mouth go dry. She quickly handed Ginny the roll but the younger woman was so enthralled with the treat that she didn't notice anything but the explosion of taste on her tongue.

"Mmm... This is fantastic, Lindsay. You have to try it."Ginny picked up another of the same type of roll and held it in front of Lindsay's mouth.

Feeling a little lightheaded, Lindsay swallowed hard and leaned forward for a bite. As soon as the sweet, cinnamon flavor hit her tongue she couldn't help but groan.

This time is was Ginny who squirmed a little in her seat. She cast her eyes downward. "I... uh... toldja. Is it hot in here?" She fanned herself with one hand. "Not really. Mmm." Lindsay licked her lips."This is the best thing I've ever tasted."

Ginny's gaze shifted to Lindsay's lower lip, which glistened with icing. Unconsciously, she licked her own lips.

"Damn, these are good."I wonder how many I can fit in my pockets? Screw the mess.

Ginny's head snapped up at the sound of Lindsay's voice and she let out a slightly shaky breath, wondering what in the world had gotten into her. She couldn't want to.... "Uh... Did you ever dream of being trapped overnight in a candy shop as a kid, and being able to eat as much as you wanted?" she said in rush, still flustered.

Lindsay took another bite as she thoughtfully considered Ginny's question."Nope." She shrugged one shoulder and smiled affectionately."But I will now."

A wide, pleased grin creased Ginny's face."Good."