watch. "I have to get back. Well, I guess I'll get two for one today," she said, trying to sound cheerful about her new speaker but not really making it work. The two ladies both rushed a goodbye and headed out the door.
"First thing," I said to Pattie. "I need a box of donuts for the Pecan Bayou Police Department."
"Always glad to serve our men in blue," Pattie said, unfolding another pink-striped box. "Getting out of a parking ticket?"
"With my dad on the force, any parking ticket I get will be paid on time, in full and with a great deal of harassment from Lieutenant Judd Kelsey, super cop."
Pattie laughed. "I thought my old man was bad with all his troubles."
I knew her dad had been in and out of rehab several times in the last twenty years. My dad had probably been the one to arrest him on some of his many charges.
"It's still good, though. You know, that you can talk to him. You and your dad have something special."
"Yeah, well, that's what I'm on my way to do today. That guy I've been seeing from Dallas wants me to spend a weekend with him ... alone."
A look of acknowledgment came into Pattie's eyes. "Oh, I get it. What do you have to ask your dad for? Last time I checked you were a grown woman – with a child, no less."
"I'm not asking him for permission," I said. "I'm asking him what he thinks about it."
"Wow, you and your dad really are cool," Pattie said. "You want my opinion?"
"Sure." I said.
"I think you should go for it. You know, you're only young once, and guys like that don't come along every day. He's single, he's handsome, he isn't a drunk or a druggie, he's employed. Sounds perfect to me – better yet, give him my number."
I laughed. "Go for it, huh? I'm thinking about it. Oh, and about the author's night at the library – you didn't have to do that, but thanks."
"Yes I did." She shrugged and started closing the glass bakery case where she had just removed the donuts. "They weren't recognizing you for your work. It's as simple as that."
"Well, then, it was very kind of you to stand up for me."
"Look, Betsy, you and I are both self-made women. Your husband took a walk, but that never stopped you. I guess I admire that about you. Sometimes you have to make your own happy ending." The bell behind me jingled, and a crowd of ladies dressed in blue scrubs came in.
"You're getting busy, and I completely forgot my second reason for being here." I opened the cookbook, which was now permanently glued by icing to the crocodile page. "I can't get him to stick together. How do I fix it?"
"Um," she said, looking at the picture of the cake, "use icing between each piece to use as a glue, and don't overcook the cakes. If they get all crumbly he'll start to look like he's shedding. Keep it moist, not dry."
"Thanks again, I'll try that." I backed up as the women in blue approached the counter, their eyes focused on their next high-calorie snack. Pattie brushed some flour off of her apron and greeted them. As she started filling their orders she looked over at me and winked. I guess she was making her own happy ending, too.
CHAPTER FOUR
I stopped over at the Pecan Bayou police station with my box of iced donuts for my dad and George Beckman, the other working officer on our little police force. Dad was tapping away on his computer, while George was putting on his jacket getting ready to go out on patrol. The day dispatcher, Mrs. Thatcher, who still sported a beehive hairdo a la 1963, was filing papers while the squawk of the radio went on behind her. She adjusted her plastic eyeglass frames and focused on the black screen.
"Donuts from PattieCake's!" I announced.
It was like bringing out a cheesecake at the diet center. They all turned toward my pink-striped box, grins lighting up their little law enforcement faces.
"This is mighty nice of you darlin'," my dad said as he picked out a shiny chocolate donut. My dad was the highest-ranking officer on the police force except for