Chapter 183

Karen's POV:

“Is there wheat in this?” a petite woman in a China chop and huge dark sunglasses asked me as she held up a chocolate chip cookie.

“Yes,” I said.

“What about this?” She held up a brownie.

“Yes,” I said.

“What about this?” A Mexican wedding cookie.

“Yes.”

“Are you telling me,” she demanded, looking outraged, “that there is wheat in all of these baked goods?”

I lowered my chair. I’d been tilting it out of boredom, to see how far back I could lean without falling.

“Because Angelo Jr. doesn’t eat wheat,” the woman went on, her hand going to cradle the chubby-cheeked face of a kid standing beside her.

His blue eyes blinked out at me past his mother’s perfectly manicured nails.

“I’m raising him on a gluten-free diet.”

“Try one of those,” I said, pointing to some lemon bars.

“Is there dairy in it?” the woman asked suspiciously.

“Because I’m raising Angelo Jr. lactose-free, as well.”