The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Life in Icicle Falls) (25 page)

“No ‘maybe’ about it.”

Now there was a fresh banging at the front door. Luke swore and yanked it open.

There stood Todd. His irritated expression turned mocking, and he gave her a cynical smile. “I don’t suppose you could tear yourself away from what you’re doing to come to your sister’s grand opening.”

“We were just on our way,” Cecily said with as much dignity as she could muster.

“Nice of you to let someone know,” Todd snapped. “Do you have any idea how many people have left messages on your cell?”

“I lost it on the plane,” she said as they started for the stairs to the parking lot.

Todd shook his head and shot down the stairs ahead of them. “Yeah, and the dog ate my homework.”

“It’s true!” Cecily insisted.

“Whatever,” he said.

“Remind me what I ever saw in you,” she muttered to his back.

“My charm,” he growled.

“Come on,” Luke said. “I’ll drive you over.” Once they were in his hybrid, he echoed, “I don’t know what you saw in that guy.”

Blind. She’d been blind.

“You and I—we’re not done,” he added.

“That’s fine with me.”

The angry caveman expression had vanished, and now he was the honest, kind family man she’d known for years, smiling tenderly at her. “You remember I had a crush on you in high school?” he murmured.

“Why didn’t you do something about it back then?”

“I could never quite get up the nerve. Anyway, you always had a boyfriend.” He shrugged. “Then you moved away, and I moved on. And I was happy. I had a great marriage. But once I lost her—” He stopped for a moment, getting control of himself. “It’s been hard, and when you came back to town, I thought,
Here’s my chance.
I decided to try again.” He gnawed his lip for a minute. “I’m not a mover and shaker like Blake. I’m not the best-looking guy in town.”

“Way to sell yourself,” she teased.

They were on Lavender Lane now. He parked his car and turned to face her. “I’m a regular guy—that’s all. But there’s nothing I won’t do to make you happy. We could be good together, and after we’re done with this party I’m going to show you just
how
good.”

That sent a tingle shooting up her spine. Her mother had been right. Cecily had found someone who was perfect for her, and he’d been there under her nose all along.

Bailey must have seen her coming because Cecily had barely started up the front walk when her sister hurtled down it toward her. She picked up her pace, and they ran into each other’s arms, both crying and saying, “I’m sorry.”

“I thought I’d lost you as my sister,” Bailey said around her sobs. “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too. I was being insecure. And you know what? I knew you two were a match, but I didn’t want to admit it. Please, forgive me.”

“Thank God,” said Todd, who’d been directly behind them. “Maybe we can get on with the grand opening now.”

Cecily and Bailey smiled at each other and, arm in arm, went back up the walk, the two men falling in behind them. “I should have figured out my own love life a lot sooner,” Cecily said as they climbed the steps to the front porch, “especially when Todd talked about you being his best friend.” She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Luke.

“I’m smart that way,” Todd joked, and Cecily stuck out her tongue at him.

“Really. What
did
I see in you?”

“Nothing you won’t get more of with me,” Luke said, opening the door for her and giving her a look that sent her zing-o-meter into orbit.

Samantha was out on the front porch now, waiting for them. “About time you got here,” she said to Cecily.

“I had a problem with my flight.” Actually, she’d had a whole bunch of problems, but they were fixed now.

After the last guest had left, and everything had been cleaned up, the Sterling sisters, their men and their mother all pulled extra chairs around a table by the window and sat down to talk.

“This place is going to do okay,” Blake predicted. “Of course, I knew that right off when I saw your business plan,” he told Todd.

“Olivia, Dot and Pat and I are going to be among your first customers,” Mom said. She smiled at all three of her daughters. “I’m so proud of my girls.”

Cecily realized she hadn’t given her mother much to be proud of lately, and she felt the hot flush of shame on her cheeks. “Some of us don’t always deserve it.”

“None of us are perfect,” Mom said gently.

“Wait a minute,” Todd joked. “I thought this was a perfect family.”

“Not hardly,” Samantha said. “But we love each other anyway.”

Cecily reached over and took her little sister’s hand. “Yes, we do.”

Loving Happily Ever After

S
pring had returned to Icicle Falls, and
May was in full bloom when family, friends and neighbors packed the Icicle Falls
Community Church to witness the union of Cecily Sterling and Luke Goodman. The
mothers of the bride and groom sat teary-eyed as little Serena Goodman walked
down the aisle, scattering silk rose petals, while on Muriel’s lap baby Rose
Preston looked on in wide-eyed wonder. After her came Bailey Sterling, carrying
a small bouquet of spring flowers and wearing a pale green sheath that showed
off her auburn hair. She was wearing an engagement ring on her left hand. Next,
Ella O’Brien, Cecily’s friend, who’d flown in for the wedding along with her
husband, Jake, walked up the aisle. Following her was Samantha, the matron of
honor, dressed in chocolate-brown. Her husband, Blake, one of the groomsmen,
smiled proudly. Next to him stood Todd, the future brother-in-law, also
smiling.

And then came the bride in an off-the-shoulder wedding gown,
her face radiant behind her veil. Everyone present later agreed that although
all brides were beautiful, this one truly was the most beautiful they’d ever
seen.

Jake O’Brien sang a wedding song he’d written as the couple lit
a unity candle. Vows were exchanged, and finally Luke was allowed to kiss his
bride. The kiss he gave her was enough to wilt every flower in the sanctuary and
was rewarded with hoots and clapping.

The reception, held in the dining room at the Icicle Creek
Lodge, was catered by Bailey, with the help of Olivia Wallace and her staff.
Even though all the partitions had been folded back and the tables packed in,
there was barely enough room to hold everyone.

Samantha gave a speech, talking about how well suited Luke and
Cecily were. “Of course, with my sister’s gift for matching people up, we knew
she’d figure it out eventually,” she added, making Cecily blush and the wedding
guests chuckle.

Her speech was followed by the best man’s. Luke’s longtime
friend Joe Coyote looked handsome in his black tux. His toast was short but to
the point. “When it comes to women, some of us guys have a hard time getting it
right but not Luke. You got it right again, buddy, and I know you two are gonna
be happy.”

Luke squeezed Cecily’s hand, and her heart fluttered. Looking
back, she could only shake her head at how long it had taken her to realize how
special he was and how perfect for her.

Now the speeches were at an end, but there was one more that
needed to be given. Cecily stood and asked for the microphone, and the surprised
best man handed it over.

“I know brides don’t usually give speeches at their weddings,”
she said, “but I want to say how thankful I am that you’re all here to help us
celebrate. True love is a gift, and it’s best enjoyed with friends and family.”
She smiled down at Bailey. “And especially sisters.”

Because in all of life’s ups and downs, no matter who loved you
or who broke your heart, no matter what you did, no matter how foolish you were,
there was one thing you could count on—you always had your sister.

* * * * *

A Little About Tea

Hi, everyone! I’m really enjoying my tea shop. Everyone in
Icicle Falls has been so supportive! Especially Cecily, who comes in and lends a
hand serving when I’m short-staffed. I’m selling her lavender sachets now. We
package them in vintage teacups and they’re really popular. In fact, she’s
having a hard time keeping up with demand. I’ve learned a lot about tea, too.
Here are a few facts you might enjoy.

In England high tea is actually dinner and tends to be on the
heavier side. Afternoon tea, however, is something much more fun and girlie.
Afternoon teas come in three different varieties:

Cream tea, which offers tea, scones, jam and cream;

Light tea, which gives you tea, scones and sweets; and

Full tea, with tea, savories, sweets and dessert—yum!

To steep a perfect cup of tea
...

Use boiling water for black, dark oolong and herbal teas. This
will break down the leaf and release the flavor and antioxidants. Steep for
three to five minutes. This is why, when you’re using a teapot, you should have
a tea cozy over it to keep everything nice and hot. Don’t steep any longer than
that or your tea will become too astringent. If you’re making a more delicate
tea such as green, green oolong or white tea, use slightly cooler water.

Serve tea
...

With milk, not cream—better for the hips! Cream is too heavy and
can mask the taste of the tea.

When serving lemon with tea, lemon slices are preferable to
wedges—much daintier! Don’t forget to provide a small fork, or lemon fork, for
your guests. And never add lemon with milk since the lemon’s citric acid will
cause the milk to curdle.

Drink it up...

With your pinkie out. What’s that about? I guess originally all
porcelain teacups were made in China. They were small and had no handles. So to
keep from spilling on themselves, tea drinkers had to hold the cup with the
thumb at six o’clock and the index and middle fingers at twelve o’clock. Then
they’d raise the pinkie for balance. Well, we’re still using the pinkie for
balance. Holding your pinkie finger out a little helps avoid spills.

Make time for tea because it’s good for you! Tea contains
polyphenols, antioxidants that repair cells and may help our bodies fight off
sickness. And it’s not just green tea that’s good for you. Black, white and red
tea also have flavonoids and polyphenols. One of my personal faves is Rooibos.
So, go ahead—enjoy that cup of tea!

And here are some of my favorite recipes from Tea Time. I
hope you like them.

Bailey

Lavender Honey
(Courtesy of
Elizabeth Schultz)

Ingredients:

1 cup honey

1 tsp. lavender buds

Directions:

In a small pan bring the honey and lavender buds to a boil.
Remove from heat and cool to room temp. Then let it rest covered for a day for
the flavors to meld. Strain out the buds and store covered in a dark place.

Lavender–White Chocolate Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

2 tsp. crushed lavender buds

1⁄3 cup sugar

½ cup white chocolate chips

1 stick (1⁄2 cup) butter (cold)

2⁄3 cup milk

lavender sugar (available in most kitchen specialty stores)

Directions:

Sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt into a large mixing
bowl. Add sugar, lavender and white chocolate chips and mix. Cut in stick of
butter as for piecrust, then add milk and stir with a fork until mixture becomes
dough. Divide dough into two balls, then turn out onto a floured surface, knead
lightly and form into mounded rounds. Cut each round into quarters then place on
an ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle with lavender sugar and bake for 12–15
minutes at 425. Cool on wire rack. Makes 8–12, depending on the size of your
scones.

Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup cocoa

2 cups flour

½ cup mini chocolate chips

½ cup chopped nuts

1 tsp. vanilla

powdered sugar for coating

Directions:

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add flour, chopped nuts and
mini chocolate chips and mix well. Form into 1-inch balls and bake on ungreased
cookie sheet at 350 for 10–12 minutes. Makes approximately 2 dozen.

Lavender Cake

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups cake flour

2 ½ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 ½ cup sugar

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1–1 ½ tsp. lavender buds, crushed

½ cup butter, room temperature

2 eggs

1 tbsp. oil (for added moistness)

Directions:

Sift dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, butter
and two-thirds of the milk and beat at medium speed for two minutes. Add
remaining milk, eggs and oil and beat until blended. Pour into cake pans and
bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Remove from oven when cake springs back when touched
or when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Lavender Cake Frosting

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 cup granulated pure cane sugar

8 tbsp. shortening

3 tbsp. flour

2⁄3 cup milk at room temp

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

Combine, one at a time, the butter, shortening, sugar and flour,
mixing well after each addition. Add milk and vanilla and beat well. Frost cake
and sprinkle with lavender sugar. (Which you can purchase at most kitchen shops
or lavender specialty stores.)

Acknowledgments

I enjoyed my return to Icicle Falls, and much of that is
due to the people who’ve been with me on the journey. I want to thank Cindy
Hassinger, owner of the Alpen Rose in Leavenworth, WA, for giving me insight
into the business of running a place like Olivia’s Icicle Creek Lodge. Cindy and
her crew make it look easy! As always, I’m indebted to my wonderful editor,
Paula Eykelhof, and the rest of the Harlequin team for their expertise and
support and to my agent, Paige Wheeler, to whom I probably owe chocolate for
life. Thanks also to the brain trust, my good pals in literary adventure: Susan
Wiggs, Lois Dyer, Kate Breslin, Elsa Watson and Anjali Banerjee. Getting to work
with all of you is a large part of what makes writing so fun!

Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.

—Henry James

Turn the page for an excerpt
from Sheila’s upcoming
book,
THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD.
Coming from Harlequin
MIRA
in November 2014!