“It’s the rosemary,” a voice said wistfully, staring at a loaf of bread cradled in their hands like a newborn babe. “Rosemary?” “Yes, the rosemary! It’s inbeforeEach everything, really. It’s just not…oh, I don’t know. She’s a bit like me, to be honest. Makes really good bread, but not much else seems to go right in life.” "Don't you have a judgemental bone in your body?" The speaker let out a sigh. "Only in my sourdough!" "He wasn't my assistant, was he?" "Worse. He's the owner of the cupcake shop across the street." "Oh, dear. Were there any witnesses?” The last golden crumb of the scone disappeared into the waiting hand. The doorway chime tinkled as the other figure entered the bakery, and a chuckle rumbled out. “There’s always witnesses in a bakery, but I doubt they saw a single thing in my favor this time.” "I don't know about that. I happened to be driving by and saw him carrying a few boxes out the back… Not very neighborly, is it?" The scent of fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, and yeasty sweetness blanketed the air. A piece of that sweet, spicy air dropped into the empty tankards at the counter. The other set of rims matched Cookie Cutie’s logo: a white paw print against a warm browncat mug “Ginger snaps!” The chuckling customer’s words echoed across the quaint bakery, sending shivers down the spine of the baker. Scaly, a timid ginger kitten, with a sunflower on her uniform. "Excuse me? Did you just say…" "Ginger snaps? Who’s asking?”