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Louisa refused to sit still on the bus. Every stop made her flinch and look expectantly at the LED readout, as the monotone voice clearly enunciated a stop that wasn't theirs. Rosie tried her best to ignore the antics, to remind herself that this was a special day for Louisa, but by the time they were two stops away even she was starting to fidget.

As soon as the bus got to their stop, the little girl practically burst through the doors, landing on the pavement outside with a triumphant "WOO!"

"Ay Dios mios, Louisa. Who put ants in your pants? Stop being a bobo."

"Stop being a fossil!" Rosie snorted as Louisa stuck out her tongue. Another vocab word, here to remind Rosie about how much of a stick-in-the-mud she was.

Thankfully Louisa's energy subdued itself, even if by a smidgen, by the time they walked the block to make it to Landry's. Outside the door, Rosie pulled out a ziplock baggy filled with quarters from her purse and handed it to Louisa.

"Here you go. No asking for payday loans either! Spend responsibly, Wheeza" Rosie toothily chided her sister, who grinned in return. Without any more banter, Louisa opened the door and walked inside, leaving her sister to tag behind. It was... Similar to walking into a wall of sound. All of the baker's senses were immediately consumed. Laughter of children rang across the blips and blops of the machines. Louisa immediately dove towards the area that held rhythm games, probably to play DDR or that drum game again.

Rosie decided to take herself to the section where they served food, the noise dialing down just enough for her to think. She rarely came with Louisa, but when she did that was usually the place she rested and watched (until her sister demanded an audience of one (ie her)).

"Busy Friday, huh?" Rosie smiled as she approached the counter, "I'd like a banana smoothie, please."

"That's right." Rosie nodded, surprised at the glowing praise the woman behind the counter gave Louisa. Well, at least her sister was behaving herself when she came here solo. That gave Rosie much relief. However, the following part about the free smoothie caught her off guard. "Huh? I..." And then something clicked.

Louisa often came home a little more winded, or with a prize that Rosie was fairly certain was not worth the little collection of tickets she had amassed. She chalked it up to luck or Louisa's friends pitching in... But of course, it had to be Landry. Generosity and Landry were often spoken in the same breath.

"I can't believe I didn't connect it sooner... You've been spoiling Louisa, haven't you?" There was no anger in her voice, just surprised mirth, "Thank you. She loves coming here. It's her favorite place. Thanks to you, she's been more active doing chores too." No more prodding the little spunk to take out the trash, Louisa often looked for excuses to work to get more quarters.

Ah, this... Probably didn't make a lot of sense to Landry, "I'm Rosie. Louisa's older sister," Gratitude radiated from her warm smile, "As for the smoothie, I feel like I should be buying you one... What do you suggest to make it less boring?"

Rosie returned the handshake and couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. Not spoiling, just losing things, huh? Well, the baker decided, she would need to lose some sweets around Landry too.

you fine young thing.

For a split second, the world stopped turning. Was.. Was Landry flirting with her? Rosie barely resisted the urge to look around, to ensure that the person Landry was talking to was indeed herself. It wasn't like Rosie had never been flirted with, some customers at the bakery were prone to do such things. Usually, she brushed it off with a nonchalant laugh. Also, it was typically men.

But a woman? She couldn't recall... And it wasn't that this was a bad thing. Rosie had... learned some things about herself. Knowing Landry was also kind to Louisa and most children? Well, that just sweetened the pot.

... Or you know Landry could be friendly and this wasn't flirting at all. The world started turning again, and all the baker could do was grin, "Young? You can't be much older than me, Chica. Or has age decided to leave you with your beauty?" Rosie chuckled and nodded, "I can drink, but I only like to drink with others. Surprise me, more than you already have."

It was understandable why Landry's was popular. Landry herself was similar to a child, and no, not in a bad way. Honest and kind, two traits kids respected more than anything. They could tell she was genuine and that went a long way in their eyes. In Rosie's too.

"Thank you." She sniffed it at first, baking habit, and took a sip. Immediately her eyebrows shot up. There was a sweet fruit flavor and then, at the very end, just the hint of the rum. Perfect. "It's really good! I didn't know Landry's was also a nightclub." Rosie teased and grinned, taking another sip.

"Mmm, could I buy you one? Or... something you'd like?" She owed her and well... Any excuse to keep talking was worth it.