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prescriptions that expired two years ago.”
    “If they’ve expired, aren’t they harmless?”
    “Maybe,” she said. “Hey, I don’t have any chicken soup, but maybe I can bring you over a latte and a double-chocolate-chip muffin. Would that help?”
    “That would be wonderful. Everybody who comes in tells me I need chicken soup, but I’m thinking there’s no cure for what ails a girl like chocolate.”
    She laughed. “A double-chocolate-chip muffin it is, then. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
    While I was waiting for Sadie to arrive, I went to the bathroom and dampened a washcloth with the hottest water I could tolerate. I closed my eyes and held the cloth on my face. Afterward, I reapplied my makeup—just the basics—since I didn’t want to make it painfully obvious to every customer who came into the store that I had a cold.
    I heard the bell over the door jingle and called that I’d be right out. When I stepped back into the store, Sadie was sitting on the navy sofa facing away from the window. She had my muffin and a nonfat vanilla latte with cinnamon waiting for me on the coffee table.
    “Thank you,” I said, as I sank onto the sofa opposite Sadie and picked up my latte. “This hot coffee will do wonders for my scratchy throat. And the muffin will perk up my woe-is-me spirits.” I lifted the latte to my lips, and the scent was almost as wonderful as the taste. The hot liquid both seared and soothed my throat.
    “I can’t believe you aren’t more worried about this police thing,” Sadie said. “I’m telling you, I’d be so rattled.”
    I set the latte back on the coffee table and picked up my muffin. “It’s not that big a deal . . . except for the laundry. I’d never even heard of that drug they’re looking for.”
    “Neither have I.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. “But that doesn’t mean there’s not some of it in my outdated medicine cabinet.”
    We shared a laugh.
    “How are things with you and Blake?” I asked. I knew the trust issues raised during the Timothy Enright investigation had been a strain on the couple.
    Sadie sighed. “We’re getting there. Blake is terrific, and I love him with all my heart. I’m just still having trouble getting over the fact that he kept things from me.”
    “And his blurting out to me that the two of you were trying for a baby when you wanted to keep it a secret from everyone didn’t help, either.” I bit into my muffin.
    “No, that didn’t help. But it wasn’t the big issue. He was right in that if I’d been going to tell anyone, it would have been you. And I know the things he kept from me were to protect me, but . . .”
    “Have you considered counseling?” I asked.
    “Yes and no. We discussed it briefly, but we honestly don’t have time. Between running the coffee shop and doing everything that has to be done at home . . .” She shrugged. “You know how it is.”
    “I know, but some things you make time for.”
    “We have been working on our relationship,” Sadie said. “We’re just trying to do it on our own before seeing a counselor. For instance, we’ve been doing this thing where we’re reading and working out a plan to rebuild our trust.”
    “Like what? And is this professional advice or tabloid advice?”
    “You’re nosy when you’re sick!” She grinned. “Professional, of course. The most important thing is making the choice that we are going to be open and trusting and focus on our marriage.”
    “Good. I’m glad. You know I’m here to help in any way I can.”
    “I know. But things are really going well. We’re even having date nights again.”
    I laughed. “That’s more than I can say. Work and this cold have put me on the shelf for a while.”
    “So you and Todd haven’t been out lately?”
    “Not in a couple weeks,” I said. “He’s been swamped at the Brew Crew, and I’ve been swamped here.”
    “What about Ted?”
    “What about him?” I asked. I knew to tread carefully