Before Newt could decide how to handle the chef's fee that had appeared out of nowhere, the kitchen curtain was pulled aside.
Tina emerged carrying a heavy wooden tray and cheerfully asked everyone to move their empty dinner plates aside.
Newt swallowed what he had been about to say and hurried to make room for his wife.
Gavin took the opportunity to tuck the leather pouch of materials into his robes.
Three signature desserts from Jacob's Bakery sat neatly arranged on the tray.
The freshly warmed apple strudel had been cut into thick, even slices. Its flaky pastry glistened faintly, and tender, steaming chunks of apple, raisins, and cinnamon filling showed at the cut edges, sending up wisps of sweet-scented steam.
Tina served a slice to each of the two young guests.
"Queenie made this for Jacob back when they first fell in love. You could call it a token of their courtship. Jacob later put it on the bakery's signature menu."
Beside it were the bakery's Niffler-shaped jam pastries, the children's favorite.
Each had a round dough belly and two little paws tucked against its chest. Bright red raspberry jam peeked through the layers of pastry.
The last plate held Polish doughnuts made from Jacob's family recipe. Their fried shells were puffed and soft, with a thick layer of icing on top.
Tina set a small bowl of whipped cream beside the plates and told them they could add as much as they liked.
"Queenie had a friend bring these from the bakery to London," Tina explained with a smile as she laid out the bone-china plates. "I went to London this afternoon, so I picked them up on my way back."
Cordelia looked up curiously. "Who's Jacob?"
Tina had mentioned Queenie over dinner—she was Tina's sister—but the other