“Excuse me,” I said.
It came out tighter and sharper than I meant it to.
She turned around holding a box of muffins, wearing the friendly, relaxed expression of a person who has no idea anything is wrong — and that expression fell off her face the instant she saw mine.
Her eyes dropped to the cart.
“Oh, hi!” she said, and then, to Sammy, warmly, easily, “Hey there, buddy!”
“Hi!” Sammy beamed and waved.