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"Whatever," Chloe would groan

But she would stoht place

It was very calone on inventorying forever

After serving the cheese enchiladas Ulysses and Iup, I was nearly asleep on my feet but I wanted to look for Astrid I took a plate of enchiladas, covered in foil

"What are you doing with that?" Niko askedthe "She’s on ht to myself, she’s on my list, too

I had no doubt that she was still in the store--there was no way for her to leave, and ould she?

But where was she holed up? Even after a day of cleaning, the store was pretty messy, it’s not like I could look for clues

I set up a stool in the center of the main food aisle and just left the plate there

No note Too tired

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE POWER OF PANCAKES

I woke up to the beep-beep-beep of ot to sleep until eight, but for me and my little kitchen helper, whoever it turned out to be that day, it was up at seven We had to make breakfast for the troops

"Batiste," I whispered to the sleeping boy With his face softened by sleep, he looked less superior and judgmental He looked sweet, curled onto his side, with his two hands placed under his cheek as if in prayer

"Batiste" I nudged him with my sneaker "We have to ht at me

"Stuffed pancakes with fresh berry syrup"

"What’s that?" I asked

"Breakfast I already planned the menu"

"Okay," I said "Do you kno to uess it was a stupid question Still there’s nothing like sarcas their neck Especially at seven in the h the aisles like a pro, selecting Bisquick, a dozen noncrushed eggs, two bags of frozen berries, a brick of creaar

We found Niko in the kitchen This hy I didn’t coot up at six Yep, six Seis Six ahtly "Batiste, you’re Dean’s helper for today?"

"Yes and I have the whole day planned" Batiste turned to me "We need the blender"

As for Batiste, he repri my hands ("Cleanliness is next to Godliness, Dean!"), but besides that, he was a great helper In fact, I sort of becaar in the blender and then mixed pancake batter in the KitchenAid and then created these delicious pancakes in a cast-iron ht-year-olds could cook?

"Wow!" said the kids as they filed in, led by Josie

"Oh ," Sahalia moaned She was still in her pajamas but everyone else was fully dressed and ready for work

"Goodto Josie with a cup of coffee "You want some coffee?"

"No, thanks, I drink tea," she said

"Oh Okay," Niko said Then he just stood there

"Chloe and Ulysses, please keep your places in line You knohere you are to stand Yes, you do"

"That’s so save them, like, a set place in line," Niko said to Josie

I felt for the guy He was truly horrible with the small talk

Josie didn’t seem to notice Niko’s aard efforts In fact, she didn’t see away "Everyone gets one to start, then you h for everyone"

"I h for you all to have thirds," Batiste said proudly

And we did have thirds The only thing that di the pancakes was that every tiood!" Batiste repri the Lord’s name in vain

I had hardly seen Alex for the last day and so I tried to grab him after breakfast

"Hey, A," I said "Think you could stick around for a few et you to look at these ovens I can’t get the terab his interest

"Sorry, Dean But Niko needsan apron, feeling like a ed mother whose children have discovered the mall

After breakfast I took a plate with three stuffed pancakes drowning in berry sauce and wandered around looking for Astrid

Instead, I ran into Jake and Brayden

They had cleared away a section of the Wo alley with bottles of bubble bath and a heavy yoga ball

"Dude! You shouldn’t have!" Jake said when he saith the plate

He ambled over His eyes were bloodshot and he smelled like old beer

"They’re not for you, Jake," Brayden said "They’re for Astrid"

I felt the blood rush to ht?" Jake drawled

"Well, I’ve been leaving food out for her I want her to know, you know, that she’s welcome to come back"