Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe by Rebecca Raisin

sadness in her eyes, and without her usual smile it doesn’t look like Cee.
    â€œJaney’s been diagnosed with cancer. From what they know, it seems one o’ those aggressive types…” She breaks off as her words become a jumble when the tears finally spill.
    I wrap my arms around her, knowing there’s nothing I can say that will ease her heartbreak in the slightest, and because I’m so shocked. I think of Janey, with her ever-present smile, silver hair always tied up in an orderly bun. She keeps the town social life ticking over as she buzzes around organizing events, and fundraisers. She’s so vital and vibrant it’s hard to picture her as anything less. Surely it can’t be?
    â€œWill she be OK? I mean, modern medicine is so good these days, right?”
    I lean on the car next to CeeCee.
    â€œThey gonna try, sugar plum, and I been praying for her.”
    â€œWhere is she, Cee? Up in Springfield?”
    CeeCee nods as she wipes her tears.
    â€œWhy don’t you go to her? Surely she needs you more than anything right now.”
    She takes a long shuddery breath in. “I was going to wait and see what Walt had to say. He’s coming back some time this weekend to drop off the keys for the store. I told him we’d find a way to keep it open, like maybe do a roster system with the other shopkeepers on the street. That way they still got some money comin’ in.”
    Once people find out about Janey, there’ll be all sorts of help lined up, from bulk trays of casseroles, to people tending their garden, and anything else they can think of that might ease their burden. Ashford will band together in a show of support for Janey and Walt.
    â€œI’m sure there’ll be no shortage of helpers. We better make up a basket of chocolate for them too.” It’s the only thing I know to do in a crisis. Ply people with food and hope it brings a small level of comfort somehow.
    My heart breaks for them, and for CeeCee, who was trying so hard to keep it from me when she must have been slowly dying inside.
    â€œWe can sort out his shop, Cee. You should go to her.”

Chapter Eleven
    By early afternoon the kids finally lose their zeal. We’ve sold out of almost everything as the festival went on merrily outside, while the children played inside. My head throbs with the sudden silence but I brace myself for them to get their second wind as the Easter bunny is moments away from arriving to spread some cheer and hand out eggs we’d secreted out. I stop for a moment, and look over at Walt and Janey’s shop, and can’t help but miss them. I know CeeCee will put on an act, pretending to be all bubbly and happy for everyone’s sake, but really her heart’s broken into about a million pieces.
    CeeCee wanders over to me and whispers, “He’s here.” She nods to the back door.
    I find Charlie in the crowd and get set to watch her reaction.
    CeeCee claps her hands to get their attention. “We just wanna say thank you for coming to play here at the Gingerbread Café today. We surely have enjoyed it. If you wouldn’t mind doing me one last favor…”
    The kids sit cross-legged on the floor, staring up at her.
    â€œCan anyone tell me who that is at the back door?”
    Their heads swivel to door as the Easter bunny walks in holding a basket filled with eggs. They immediately jump up and race towards him screaming, “The Easter bunny!”
    Damon in his pink fluffy bunny suit is well disguised, but I can almost feel him laughing under the bobbly head as they launch themselves at his knees. Charlie is at the back of the crowd, her face lit with wonder.
    Parents shade their faces as they peer through the glass. They’ve been relegated outside and seem happy to watch from the street.
    Damon tries to hand out eggs but can’t pick them up with his huge paws. He muffles, “A little help here?”
    We giggle and