The Bracelet by Mary Jane Clark Page A

house.”
    The old man shook his head. “You and Vin have already been too good to me. You’re always giving me cakes and pies and bringing me home-cooked meals. And Vin volunteering to drive me into the city for my treatments, well, that goes above and beyond. I don’t know what I would have done without both of you.”
    â€œWe’re glad to help, Poppy, in whatever small way we can,” said Terri, uncomfortable with the praise. She changed the subject. “I don’t think you’ve ever actually met my daughter.” She turned to continue the introduction. “Poppy, this is Piper. Piper, this is Mr. Enright.”
    Poppy looked up and managed a weak smile. “Your mother has told me so much about you, Piper,” he said. “She’s so proud of you.”
    â€œEven though she has to say that, it’s still nice to hear,” Piper said as she reached over the counter to shake hands. “I’m proud of her, too.”
    â€œShe told me that you’re getting into the wedding cake business yourself. You just made your first cake, didn’t you?”
    â€œYes,” said Piper. “It turned out pretty well.”
    â€œPretty well? It was terrific!” said Terri. “Show Mr. Enright a picture, Piper. You want the usual, Poppy? Hard roll with poppy seeds?”
    Piper’s face lit up as the thought occurred to her. “So, is that where you get your nickname?” She turned to her mother. “He’s a poppy seed fan?”
    â€œMm-Hmm.” Terri nodded and smiled. “Poppy seed rolls, bread, muffins, cake. Mr. Enright loves them all. Every time he came in he’d ask for something with poppy seeds. I just started calling him that one day and the name stuck. You don’t mind, do you, Poppy?”
    The man’s eyes brightened. “Not at all,” he said. “In fact I kinda like it.”
    As Piper pulled the phone from her pocket, the front door opened again. Everyone glanced over to see the young woman in a purple ski jacket who entered.
    â€œHey, Zara,” said Piper, immediately turning back to her phone and scrolling around to find the wedding cake picture.
    â€œZara, dear,” said Terri, giving her daughter-in-law her full attention. “And you’re wearing your new jacket! I love that color. But I didn’t expect to see you today. Are you feeling better?”
    The young woman pulled back the faux-fur-lined hood, revealing a mane of jet black hair. Her face was pale but her nose was red from the cold outside. She positioned herself so that she could look at her image in the mirror behind the counter, lifting her chin, angling her head from side to side and positioning her lips in a coy smile as she admired herself.
    â€œI feel a little better than yesterday,” Zara answered, continuing to check out her reflection. “I was thinking about your cornbread, Mom. I’m in the mood for a big piece of that. Do you have any made?”
    Piper winced. The sound of Zara calling Terri “Mom” always made her cringe.
    â€œI don’t,” said Terri. “But I can mix some up in no time. You hardly ate anything yesterday, Zara. I worry about you.” Terri finished buttering Mr. Enright’s roll, poured a cup of coffee, added some milk and put a lid on the container. She set everything on the counter in front of Poppy before heading for the kitchen.
    Piper rolled her eyes. Zara was actually going to let her mother go ahead and make the cornbread especially for her. Piper wasn’t really surprised though. Zara was used to getting what she wanted. She expected it. Her brother catered to Zara’s every whim; why shouldn’t the in-laws?
    â€œHere you go, Mr. Enright,” said Piper, holding out her phone.
    The old man leaned in to get a closer look. Zara poked her head forward as well.
    â€œOh, the wedding cake again. We all had to look at it yesterday,” she said