The woman officer pulled out her phone. “The nursing home staff posted pictures yesterday. Residents’ families shared them. One man called his granddaughter crying because your pies reminded him of his wife. She works with a local community foundation.”
The woman officer nodded.
Lila blinked. “Because of pie?”
He chuckled. “Apparently because of forty pies.”
The officer kept going. “The story spread overnight. The foundation wants to honor you at tonight’s town event. The mayor’s office is involved. A local bakery owner wants to offer you a scholarship for weekend classes if you’re interested.”
Lila just stared.
I said, “That’s why you’re here?”
The woman officer understood anyway.
The woman officer nodded. “Arthur insisted someone tell you in person before the story spread more. He said, and I’m quoting, ‘That girl did not bring dessert. She brought people back to life for ten minutes.'”
And that was it. I broke.
Not quiet crying. Full shaking, ugly crying, one hand over my face because the terror had nowhere to go now.
Lila rushed to me. “Mom? What happened?”