"It is my honor to meet you," Lauri-Ell says, offering the woman a smile. "I was to bring you chocolates as well, but I sampled one to see if these candies are worthy of serving as a gift. And they were delicious."

She blushes a little, and her cheeks go a darker blue because of it. She hadn't had chocolate before that moment. It had been a mistake to sample.

Then she sits and settles in.

"I enjoy milk."