The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Life in Icicle Falls) (24 page)

“Thanks,” Samantha said. “Bailey wants to have everything in place by this afternoon.”

“So, she’s all ready for the big unveiling tomorrow.”

“Yes, and it looks wonderful. You’ll have to come and bring your mom and Serena.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I have a feeling Serena’s going to be a regular customer.” Then he casually added, “I assume Cecily’s coming back for this.”

“She’ll be there,” Samantha said, and he could hear the steel in her voice.

Cecily’s sudden vacation had come as a surprise to a lot of the Sweet Dreams staff but not to Luke. He knew exactly why she’d left town. He understood her need to lick her wounds, but enough was enough. It was time to come home.

It was also time to settle what should have been settled long ago. He’d been a wimp and let her dangle him like a fish on a hook. Of course, he had no one to blame for that but himself. He’d taken the bait. He could have looked around for another woman.

And yet, although he’d tried to convince himself otherwise, he didn’t want another woman—not when he knew that he and Cecily would be good together. He had no idea why she didn’t see that. She was supposed to be the expert in these things. As far as he was concerned, he was through with trusting the expert.

* * *

“You should have stayed longer,” Cecily’s friend Margo said as Cecily followed her out to the car, pulling her suitcase behind. “How am I going to find my perfect match without you here to guide me?”

Margo never listened to her when it came to men, so Cecily considered that a moot question.

“I mean, when’s the last time you had a vacation?”

Cecily hadn’t felt the need for one. She’d enjoyed working at the Sweet Dreams office, and the days had run smoothly together. “A while, but this visit has been like three vacations. I need to go home to recover. Anyway, I have to get back for the opening of my sister’s tea shop.”

Much as she wanted to stay away, she knew she couldn’t. She was far from excited about seeing Bailey and Todd together, but family solidarity was important, and if she didn’t show up her mother would not be happy. That was the main reason she was doing this. She didn’t want to disappoint Mom. After losing two husbands, her daughters were all she had, and regardless of what Cecily felt about her sister, she was determined to keep up appearances for Mom’s sake.

And she needed to catch this flight. She should have booked an earlier one. This would be cutting it close, and if she missed the opening, it would really be ugly.

“Let’s just hope she doesn’t poison anyone this time around,” Margo said callously as they got in her convertible. She gave her long, blond hair a flip and started the car, and Cecily surreptitiously checked the time on her cell phone. They should have left an hour ago, but it had been hard to get Margo moving after their late night out.

Margo must have seen her because she said, “Don’t worry. You’ll make your flight.”

Who was she kidding? Freeway traffic was constipated, even this early on a Saturday morning, and they crawled along. “You’re gonna make it,” Margo said again half an hour later as they inched forward.

How many miles had they gone? Two? Cecily pressed her lips together and stared out the window. Why hadn’t she arranged different transportation to the airport?

By the time they got to LAX, she had ten minutes to clear security and reach her gate.

“You’ll be fine,” Margo said as they air-kissed goodbye. “Call me when you need a break from Small Town, U.S.A.”

Cecily thanked her and hurried to the nearest curbside check-in.

That ate up six of her precious minutes. And she still had to get through airport security. She looked at the line. She’d never make it. No way was she going to get back to Icicle Falls in time for Bailey’s grand opening.

With a sigh she pulled out her driver’s license and her e-ticket and went to the end of the line. If she got any flight out that would get her to Seattle in time, it would be a miracle. She should probably call Samantha and let her know.

Except she didn’t want to have to tell Sam, Ms. Organized, that she’d missed her flight. She sure didn’t want to tell her mother. The very idea of having to hear the disappointment in her mother’s voice made her queasy. And what made her even sicker was the suspicion that she’d actually
wanted
to miss this flight, that she wanted, in some small, spiteful way, to rain on Bailey’s parade.

She moved slowly behind a young family returning from Disneyland (the mouse ears on the two little boys were a big clue) and prayed that somewhere in this huge airport there would be an airline that could get her out of here.

Two women came up behind her. “Look at this line,” one said in disgust.

Cecily’s sentiments exactly.

“I’ll be glad when we get to Seattle,” said the other. “Poor Linda.”

“Awful to lose someone like that.”

Like what?

“It just goes to show, you never know when it’s your time.”

“But to have her die so suddenly, and them not speaking. God, I bet she feels guilty.”

“I’m dying for an iced coffee,” said one of the women, and that turned the subject in a whole new direction.

Cecily never got to hear any more about Linda and the sudden death of the mysterious person with whom she’d been on the outs, but she got the underlying message loud and clear. She really needed to make that flight.

Chapter Twenty

WELCOME TO TEA TIME

We hope you’ll come often to enjoy our specially chosen selection of teas and accompanying goodies, all made with love. Here’s what you’ll find on the menu.

Afternoon Teas:

Lavender Tea:

Lavender–white chocolate scones with Devonshire cream & lavender honey

Lavender sugar cookies

Chocolate cookies

Tea sandwiches

Chocolate Tea:

Chocolate delight cookies

Chocolate cake

Lavender–white chocolate scones

Chocolate fondue, featuring seasonal fruits

À la Carte:

Chicken curry sandwich

Salmon salad sandwich

Smoked salmon quiche

Chocolate cake

Lavender cake

Carrot orange cake

Blackberry scones

Lavender–white chocolate scones

Teas:

Lady Grey

Lavender Earl Grey

Orange Pekoe

Mixed Berry

Jasmine

Green

Chamomile

Chocolate Mint

B
y Saturday at one-thirty, everything was ready for the grand opening, which was really going to be more of an open house. People would be able to purchase items, but today the eats were on Bailey and Todd. They’d be offering samples from the menu, as well as a list of the teas and foods that would be served.

The Sterling family stood in the middle of Tea Time Tea Shop, admiring Bailey’s handiwork. “This is lovely, darling,” said her mother, taking in the tables covered with lace tablecloths and topped with small vases filled with daisies and pink carnations.

A pink ceramic wall clock shaped like a teapot hung on one wall, and the anniversary clock her mother had gotten for her sat on top of the glass display case that housed a mouthwatering array of baked goodies and Sweet Dreams chocolates. In the shop section, all manner of teapots, tea accessories and fancy jams and teas were displayed on shelves and on little white tables decorated with vintage crocheted doilies.

At one point Bailey had talked with Cecily about selling some of her homemade lavender sachets. There were no sachets anywhere on the shelves. And there was no sign of Cecily.

“Cec said she was going to be here, right?” she asked Samantha for the tenth time.

Her sister frowned. “That’s what she said.”

A knock on the front door raised her hopes, until she opened it and found Kevin from Lupine Floral bearing a gigantic floral arrangement.

“A little something from Heinrich and me for your big day,” he said as she let him in. “Oh, look at this,” he gushed as he handed it over. “You are going to do such fabulous business!”

She thanked him and set the arrangement on the glass display case. “I hope you’re going to stay for our party.”

“Oh, darling, free food? Just try and keep me away. And I’m going to insist Heinrich tear himself away from his workroom and come see this. It’s simply divine.”

A fresh knock on the door shot her hopes up again. It was Todd, and he, too, had flowers from Lupine Floral. “Long time no see,” he joked with Kevin. Then he turned to Bailey. “You look great,” he said, nodding at her simple green summer dress and vintage ruffled apron. “Fresh as a...”

“Daisy,” she supplied. She felt more like a
wilted
daisy. She’d been working here since eight, getting everything ready, and had run back to Samantha’s house only to freshen up and change. Normally, excitement would have carried her along, but her disappointment over not seeing Cecily had sapped her energy.

“I’m thinking more ‘cream puff.’ In fact, you look good enough to eat,” he whispered and kissed her.

Her kiss must have been as wilted as she felt. Todd studied her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she lied, trying to sound perky.

He glanced around, seeing Samantha and Muriel and Blake, all checking out the merchandise. “Where’s Cec?” he asked, frowning.

Bailey’s eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head.

His frown deepened, and his jaw tightened. “Well, never mind. This is going to be great.” He set the flowers next to the arrangement from Lupine Floral and said hello to the rest of the family, then returned to her. “What do you want me to do?”

In light of all the cash he’d laid out and all the manual labor, she said, “Nothing. You can help me talk this place up.”

“That won’t be hard. I’d say it speaks for itself.”

“I hope so.” She really wanted her tea shop to succeed.

She also really wanted her sister here, but that was out of her control. She slipped into the kitchen to see how Amber and Ginny were doing as they finished prepping the serving trays.

They, too, were wearing vintage aprons. Ginny smiled at Bailey as she entered the kitchen. “Don’t worry,” she said. “We’re just about done.”

A mix of vintage china and silver serving platters covered every inch of counter space, all loaded with scones and cookies and tea sandwiches. And Bailey had more in containers in the cooler to replenish the supply. Two large drink dispensers filled with lemonade and lavender iced tea stood ready to quench visitors’ thirsts.

“We can handle this,” Ginny said, giving her a little push back into the main room. “Get out there and open the door.”

It was time. Bailey’s palms suddenly felt damp. She wiped them on her apron and went to let people in.

Olivia Wallace was the first to show up. She came bearing a card and the Bless This Kitchen sign that had hung in her kitchen at the Icicle Creek Lodge. “My kitchen has been blessed,” she said, kissing Bailey’s cheek. “Now it’s time to pass the blessing on.”

Bailey hugged her. “Thank you, Olivia,” she whispered. “For everything.”

“You’re going to do really well. I just know it,” Olivia said, patting her cheek.

Right behind her came Dot Morrison. “Hey, kiddo, it’s gorgeous in here,” she said and handed Bailey a card. She lowered her voice. “There’s a little something in there for unexpected business expenses.”

Knowing Dot, that “little something” would be a big something. Bailey hugged her, too. “Dot, you’re the best.”

“You got that right,” Dot cracked and went to join Olivia and Muriel.

Ginny and Amber put out the goodies as more people flooded in. Her mother’s admirer, Arnie Amundsen, brought flowers. So did Todd’s brother, Devon.

“Whoever painted your outside trim sure did a good job,” he said with a wink.

“You were a big help,” she told him, “especially with hanging the lace curtains.”

“Don’t say that too loud,” he said, pretending to recoil in horror.

She kissed him on the cheek.

At that moment Todd arrived at her side, and Devon held up both hands. “I wasn’t hitting on your girl. I promise.”

Tina Swift came next, bringing some lace doilies. “I thought you could use these on your tables.” She looked around, studying everything. “It’s so pretty in here. You’re going to be turning people away.”

“Thanks,” Bailey said, as she thought,
Thank you for firing me.
Now, instead of working in someone else’s shop, she had her own business.

Ed York and Pat Wilder came bearing more flowers, and Stacy Morris, who had recently opened Timeless Treasures Gifts and Antiques, brought Bailey a chintz teapot. The gifts and guests kept arriving—Cass Wilkes, Charley and Dan Masters, Chita and Ken Wolfe, Elena from the Sweet Dreams office, Gerhardt Geissel from Gerhardt’s Gasthaus. In fact, everyone from the chamber of commerce was on hand to help celebrate. The place was getting packed. But where was Cecily?

Bailey hugged and shook hands with well-wishers and smiled, all the while watching the door for her sister. She wasn’t going to come, and as time passed it became increasingly difficult to keep that smile in place. This day should have tasted so sweet, but her sister’s boycott made it sour as lemons.

“Please, call her,” Bailey begged Samantha.

“I have. She’s not answering her cell.” Samantha looked both sad and angry. “There’s nothing we can do right now. Don’t let this spoil your day.”

Too late. It already had.

* * *

Cecily found her car at the Sea-Tac airport parking lot and put her suitcase in the car trunk, then fell behind the wheel. She’d gotten a flight out, but it had been cursed. The kid sitting next to her hadn’t gotten to his air-sickness bag in time and had used Cecily’s lap instead. She’d cleaned off as best she could but still smelled faintly like barf. She’d have to change when she got home. What was the traffic like? She’d check Google Maps on her phone and see.

Her phone! Where was her phone?

* * *

Bailey’s mouth ached from smiling, but not as badly as her heart ached. All the compliments and good wishes in the world couldn’t make up for the fact that she’d lost her sister. She went into the kitchen to get another serving tray of cookies and discovered Todd on his cell.

“I don’t care how pissed you are at me. Get your butt over here.”

She came up and laid a hand on his arm, making him jump and his face turn red. “Oh. Hi. I had to make a call.”

“I heard. It’s really sweet of you, but it won’t work. She’s not coming.”

“She’s a bitch.”

“No, she’s not. She’s never been like this.”

“Well, the new her is no improvement,” Todd said furiously. “She’s ruining this day for you.”

Ruining someone’s day was probably nothing compared to ruining someone’s life—and that was what she’d done to her sister.

The crowd ebbed and flowed. Luke Goodman arrived with his mother and little girl. She heard him asking Samantha, “Where’s Cec? I thought she was coming back for this?”

“She was supposed to,” Samantha said, her voice peppered with irritation.

She wasn’t coming. Bailey got the message loud and clear.
I’m through with you.

They couldn’t go on like this. A sister wasn’t just a sister. She was also a best friend, someone you stayed connected with all your life. Bailey couldn’t allow that connection to be broken permanently. And there was only one way to fix it.

She sneaked out onto the back porch with her cell. Of course, she got voice mail. Her eyes stung with tears as she spoke. “Cec, I’m sorry. Please, forgive me. I’ll do anything to make things right. I...I love Todd, but I can’t be with him like this, not with us never speaking. I’ll do anything you ask. I’ll leave town. I’ll—”

“No, you won’t,” said an angry voice behind her. Todd snatched the phone out of her hand and ended the call. “Damn it all, Bailey, did you mean that or didn’t you? Do you love me?”

Tears were pouring down her face now. “Yes,” she cried. “I do. But...”

“No buts. Do you think you can just shut this off like a faucet, that if you leave I won’t follow you? I’m not some—” he threw his hands up in the air “—pair of shoes you borrowed and didn’t give back. You can’t hand me off.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Bailey wailed. “She’s my
sister.
”

“Then she’d better start acting like one,” he growled. Bailey was sobbing in earnest now, and he took her in his arms and softened his voice. “Come on, now. Don’t cry. You don’t want to ruin your big day worrying about something that’s going to work out.”

“It’s too late. It’s already ruined,” she said.

“Only if you let it.”

She looked up at him. He’d been a great partner and had turned into a great friend and lover. But he wasn’t a sister. “I don’t know how to explain,” she began.

“You don’t have to. I get it. Well, as much as a man can get women,” he added. “But we’ve still got twenty minutes left. Anything could have happened. Her flight could have been delayed. She could have hit traffic.”

“On a Saturday? And why didn’t she call?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, but don’t write her off yet. If you guys are as close as you claim to be, she’ll come through.”

Which was why he’d been calling her earlier? “You don’t really believe that, do you?” Bailey said in a small voice.

“I want to. I hope she doesn’t let us down. Now, we need to get out there and get back to businss.”

She nodded, took the tissue he gave her and blew her nose. Twenty more minutes.

Back in the shop, she discovered that one final late-afternoon wave of people had rushed in. But her sister wasn’t one of them. She rang up a jar of black cherry preserves for Hildy Johnson, greeted Mayor Stone and scanned the crowd. Now not only her sister was missing but Todd, as well.

Her mother was next to buy something, insisting on paying for a box of chocolate mint tea. “I think your business is going to be a success, darling,” she said.

Bailey nodded and tried to smile. What good was business success if you failed with your family?

* * *

Cecily had gone home to clean up, throw on jeans and a ruffled top and was on her way to the door when someone banged on it. She opened it to find Luke Goodman standing there. “Oh, hi,” she said. “I was just leaving.”

“For your sister’s grand opening,” he supplied. “Everyone’s been wondering where you were.”

Cecily ducked her head, embarrassed to look him in the eye. “I had some trouble getting here.”
I had some trouble getting to the point where I wanted to be here.

“Well, the party’s still going on,” he said, but instead of ushering her out the door, he closed it behind him. “First, we have some business to settle.” Then, before she could say anything, he pulled her against him and kissed her. It wasn’t a polite kiss or even a romantic kiss. It was a force of nature, impossible to resist. And he didn’t stop there; he backed her up against the wall and put his tongue to good use. She felt one of his big hands slide up her midriff, setting off her zing-o-meter. Good Lord, what was going on here? Something was catching fire, and she suspected it might be her panties.

“I don’t care what you think about Todd Black and you,” he said, his mouth against her cheek. “You’re wrong. He’s not the man for you, and, deep down, you know it. We’re done playing games.” He kissed her again, and then his lips began to blaze a trail down her neck while his hands went...other places. “Are we still just friends?”

Why had she thought they didn’t have any chemistry together? What was wrong with her? Oh, yeah, that half-a-brain thing. “Maybe I was wrong,” she said faintly.