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Since it looked like Sara was heading off to the far end of the store, I headed down the aisle in front of me first.

More peanut butter, a larger jar this time since the kids would be around…

Until they weren't… No, don’t think like that yet. Besides it wasn’t like I wouldn't finish just about everything off all by myself before any of it went bad.

Ami looked up and down the shelves before zeroing in on a pale yellow jar. “I’ve never even heard of Banana Jelly?”

Huh? “I have, but I would have had to order it online and paying for shipping seemed like too much of a waste of money. Grab it and pick out another two. Something you might never try on your own, it’s on my dime right now. Treat yourself.”

She still hesitated. “Plus you can pick out something that Sara would hate?” That got her grinning but she ended up picking out Orange marmalade and strawberry jam. The marmalade because she asked me what marmalade was. “I think it’s got some of the peel in it. Don’t make a face. Get it and try it.” and the jam because. “Oh, Sara likes strawberries.”

I don’t think she really gets the concept of messing with her sister.

The bakery was at the end of the isle, and in the spirit of getting the kids to try new things, I picked up a paper bagged loaf of rye, black, and sure enough, some multi grain bread. Each one with a red stamp with both the date and time it had been baked.

Not sure if the time was when it come out or when in the oven.

Mom werewolf came up to the counter from the other side, a pleased grin on her face, then a slight frown.

“I’m sorry, is there a problem?”

She shook her head, “I was going to offer you something fresh from the oven, then I remembered that those are the last batches of bread for the day. Sorry.”

I sniffed at the air. “Smells like you got something mixed up?”

She grinned. “Blueberry, apple cinnamon, and strawberry muffins. But they're for the oven in the morning, they taste better if they can set overnight.” She got a conspiratory look. “I can sent Neal out to your place to deliver some tomorrow morning. I heard the cutie likes strawberry.”

Ami’s eyes went wide as she looked back and forth between us. I exchanged an evil grin with the baker and held out my hand. “John Lathe. I’ll take four of each, but if you really want him to make a good impression, a few bran muffins would help. Sara will still end up eating the others, but she likes to pretend that she eats healthy.”

The baker pulled off one of the flimsy clear plastic gloves off her right hand and shook mine. “Gladys Evens. I’m sure she will get over it. Is it something she really needs to worry about, I meant…?”

The baker blushed a little and fidgeted with her hands. “...I could tell she’s something when she came into my store.” She glanced down at Ami and gave her a hesitant smile. “But not, you know, like us. Just something. But I don’t know if it’s a sensitive subject...”

I let her off the hook, pointing over in the direction I felt that Sara was at. “Magic warrior.” Then patting Ami on the head, who jerked in surprise . “Witch in training.” Then pointing back in the direction of Sara. “Too young to tell yet.”

Actually more like, doing stuff that doesn't match what I’ve been told anyone else does, so I don’t have a clue. But that would be telling, to an outsider.

“But since Deputy Deborah found all this out last night, I figured that it would have made it’s way around town by know.”

Mrs’ Even giggled. “She’s actually pretty...oh, what the word I’m thinking of...Discrete. But don’t worry, I’ll be getting calls all night for the low down since everyone will hear tell we’ve been talking.”

Of that, I don’t have a doubt. “So in regards to your son?”

She grinned “He’s a big boy, since birth.” She winched as the memory. “Thank god, I heal fast. But he’s only just turned fifteen, so he can’t be much older than your Sara. Mostly I’m just pushing him because he’s usually too nervous to talk to girls, but he opened up to her. Maybe because she’s a new, cute, face.”

Ami piped up with “Sara’s going be fourteen in a few months.” I could see that the girl was getting antsy listening to old people talk, and wanted us to get a move on. So I threw her under the bus. “The girl’s reached her limits of hearing adults talk, so let’s settle up on the muffins before she begins whining.”

Ami whipped her head up at me with a shocked looked before she deliberately glared, “Too late old man.”

Then she began complaining in her best whiny voice while rolling her eyes and throwing her head back and forth, with plenty of sighs. “Are you done? Aren't we supposed to be getting food? I’m hungry, I’m bored, I’m want to go home. This is taking forever.”

I messed her hair and got a real. “Hey! Stop it!”

Our baker had lost it, but got her laughter under control. “Don’t worry about the muffins Mr Lathe, I know how much you’re going to spend here between yourself and three kids. Considered it a welcomeing gift.”

Sweet, free food. “Thanks, I’ll be sure to invite him in and show him my gun collection before I tell Sara to walk him out.”

That got another laugh from her, and a “Grandpa, you’re evil” from the middle grandchild, in an approving tone.

“Yep.” Then I whispered as we walked away. “and I get to find out if the boy can keep his mouth shut when I ask him not to talk about the Gatling gun to anyone. The ability to keep secrets might be important for anyone who wants to date one of my grand kids.”

From there it was down the produce aisle. More veggies and fruit, including a some of those other bananas, the plantains, that I was going to have to look up what to do with. Some starfruit and dragon fruit that I would have to do the same with. But those are the three Ami picked out as stuff she had never tried before, and since neither had I, it would be a good grandfather granddaughter experience.

Then we met up in the meat section with Sara and Aran. The boy had found a four pack of playdough somewhere. We looked over each other carts before trading sides of the store to pick up what each team felt the other had missed.

Then we just had the fun of fitting everything in the car, and the debate over picking up fast food or making something healthy for dinner back at home.

Since Sara wasn’t driving the winner of the debate wasn’t in much doubt.