Strong Tea
The Tea Series, Book Fourteen
Sheila Horgan
Copyright © 2015 by Sheila Horgan
Smashwords Edition
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, businesses, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. No reference to any real person is intended or implied.
Strong Tea (Fourteenth book in the Tea Series) All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, uploaded to the Internet, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, or distributed without the written permission of the author, with the exception of short quotes for purposes of review.
Special thanks to Darlene Davis MacLean and Deb Hawrylyshyn for lots of help and support.
Cover Art by David Avila
Editing and interior design by Heather Marie Adkins www.CyberWitchPress.com
Proofreading by J. Jeffers www.JJeffersEditing.com
ONE
I TRIED NOT to scream. “Teagan, I’m getting married!”
I know it’s only three in the morning, but Teagan has woken me up in the middle of the night more than once for much less important things.
“Dingleberry, are you drunk? It’s three in the flipping morning! Wait, what? You’re getting married?” Now awake, she sounded as excited as I did.
“Yep, I asked A.J., and he said yes.” I couldn’t hold it back. The excitement mingled with the giddiness, and the noise that came out of me was scary happy and infectious.
“You asked him?”
“I did.”
“Ballsy. So not traditional. So not you. Such a good story for your kids and grandkids. Shouldn’t you be celebrating?”
“He just fell asleep. I can’t calm myself down. I’m actually outside sitting in the backyard. I figured if I stayed in the house, I’d wake up Evelyn.”
“Hold on, let me get up.” I heard her say something I couldn’t distinguish to Jessie, and then the phone went silent for a minute.
“I’m putting on the kettle. I’m assuming you already have your tea in hand, dingleberry.”
“The near future Mrs. Dingleberry, if you please.”
“Near? Are you guys going to have a short engagement?”
“We already have a date. Actually, I picked the date before I asked A.J. And I got permission?”
“Permission?”
“From Daddy. I’m going to get married on Mom and Daddy’s anniversary.”
She hesitated. I’d expected a cool reception to the idea. With Mom passing just a little while ago, everyone would doubt the wisdom of choosing her anniversary to be mine. Some would think I am overly one way or another, but the truth is, if Mom hadn’t passed, I’d still want to marry on her anniversary. I think it’s going to be a very good thing.
“If it works for you, Mrs. Dingleberry-to-be, then it works. The only complication could be it’s not very far away.” I heard her kettle whistle. She must have boiled it not long ago. Which meant she hadn’t been asleep all that long. “Are you going to do something small, or are you going all out?”
“I think we will go all out in a small way.” I laughed. It felt good.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you — they took down the Empire State Building.”
“What?” Was she dreaming? Had I interrupted a dream?
“Remember the candy store in Las Vegas? They took down the chocolate Empire State Building. They said it was starting to melt.”
“Where did that come from? We were talking about my wedding, and your brain went to Las Vegas?”
“I think Las Vegas taught us something.”
“And just what did it teach us, Teagan? You weren’t even there. I told you about the chocolate Empire State Building. I went with A.J. How did Las Vegas teach us something?”
“Because, dingleberry, one of the secrets to our success is that you and I don’t have to experience a life lesson. We can hear about it from the other person and learn the lesson. Think about it. I didn’t have to have the cartilage in my ear pierced to think it was a bad idea. I saw the way it looked on you, and I thought, Nope, won’t work, and saved myself all the pain.”
“That’s not funny. My ear got infected. Mom said they might have to cut it off.”
“Yeah, I remember. Every time you put your head down on the pillow, you screamed a little.”
“Well, I didn’t have to get a Brazilian wax at the place down by Badgerwood and Baffin to know it wouldn’t work for me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a Brazilian wax, Cara.”
“Not unless you’re already in the little room when you find out a rookie is doing the work, and it turns out the wax is a little too warm. You didn’t sit down comfortably for a week.”
“I was kind of hoping the scar tissue would prevent anything from growing back. If it had worked, it just might have been worth it, but it didn’t.”
“Too much information, Teagan. How did we get from my wedding to failed waxing endeavors?”
“Just following your lead. I’m really happy for you, Cara. I think this is the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. You and A.J. are perfect for each other. You guys are going to be super happy. I know it.”
“Thanks. I know this is the wrong way and the wrong time to ask, but we’d love for you to be my maid of honor.”
“I’d be honored.” Teagan sounded like she might be crying. Just a little.
Really, did she think I would ask anyone else?
Teagan took a deep breath. “I have a question.”
“I have an answer. Shoot.”
“If you’re getting married on Mom and Dad’s anniversary, what about due dates for Valerie and Sinead?”
“Oh, crap. I’ll talk to them. Don’t really want them to deliver their babies at the reception.”
“Could be entertaining.”
We spent the next half hour talking wedding stuff. I was too excited to sleep, and Teagan indulged me, as every good sister should.
I was still up when the sun broke through a scattering of clouds. A beautiful sunrise. The perfect beginning to my day.
By the time Suzi and Evelyn got downstairs, I had a full-blown breakfast waiting.
Suzi put Evelyn in her little chair and sat at the table. “What’s this?”
A.J. appeared in the doorway, a huge smile on his face. “She’s made an honorable man of me, Suze.”
“You were an honorable man when I met you.” I walked over and gave him a quick kiss. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” He nudged my neck but then joined his sister and niece at the table.
“You guys are getting married?” Suzi squealed. It had taken her a second, but she figured it out.
“Yep, she asked me last night.”
“You asked him? So much for tradition.”
“Sometimes you have to start a new tradition. When it’s perfect.”
“I want details.”
We had a great breakfast. There was lots of laughing and teasing and all the fun that should always be shared at the beginning of your day. Another tradition I need to work on.
A.J. helped me clear the table and informed me he had decided to take the day off. He didn’t have any clients coming in to the studio anyway. Today had been a day planned for shooting inanimate objects, and he said he wanted his day to be much more animated than planned. He let his eyebrows dance all over his forehead. He hadn’t done that in a while. I admit it was a punny kind of thing to say and do, but it sent me into a fit of laughter.
Funny, I didn’t know how much uncontrolled laughter meant to me. I guess I kind of took it for granted, but since m
y mom passed, I’ve all but stopped laughing. I’ll never take laughter for granted again.
“What are we going to do?” I had a pretty good idea what A.J. had in mind. I figured we wouldn’t be spending a lot of time vertical.
“I’d like to take your dad out for lunch. Maybe drop by Gran’s and thank her for her blessing. Then I have a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
“Yep.”
“What is it?”
He pulled a face. “You’re kidding, right? I’m not going to tell you what the surprise is. Then it isn’t a surprise.”
Suzi was out the door in record time.
I spent the better part of an hour trying to cajole A.J. into telling me what the surprise was.
I’m betting that trying to get him to tell me about the surprise was more fun than the surprise could possibly be.
I actually made him blush once.
It was a very good morning.
We had lunch at Bricking Brewster’s. It was great. Not only because the food there is really good and having lunch with my dad is always good for my soul, but also because it seems like there’s been a shift. Something has changed. More laughter. Even Daddy was laughing at lunch. Telling stories of the grandkids. Bless my family; they’re bringing the kids over more to spend time with my father. It helps. It helps a lot.
“And I have made a decision, child. I have decided after your wedding, perhaps a fortnight, I will be leaving on a trip to Ireland. I will be gone for six weeks. I’ve already contacted family there and a few of the bed and breakfast establishments your mother and I stayed at when we were there.”
“Sounds great.”
“We had already made a list of things we wanted to do, and I am going to honor our list.”
“You should do whatever makes you happy, Daddy. Follow the list, don’t follow the list; go now, go later. You should do whatever makes you smile.”
“I am learning to do that child, but it will be a long and pitted road.”
A.J.’s grandmother was so happy to get the news. She congratulated us both, took a deep breath, and the whole feeling of the moment changed. “I want to offer you something. It is completely up to the two of you, and I don’t want you to feel any obligation at all.”
A.J. looked concerned. “We’re fine, Gran. We don’t need anything. The O’Flynns know how to throw a party.”
I knew A.J. was concerned Carolyn would try to help us pay for the wedding, and although she seems to do quite well financially, A.J. worries at some point the money might fall away and she’ll be burdened.
Carolyn smiled. “I’m sure they do. This is something just for the two of you.”
She stood. I was glad to see she was so steady on her feet. Not long ago, she had a back injury. Backs can be tricky.
She came back with a small jewelry box in her hand.
“You can accept this or not. Use it or not. I’m fine with it either way.”
She handed A.J. the box.
He opened it with a smile on his face. I’m one hundred percent sure he thought she had given him something to give to me.
When he saw the contents, he teared up.
Carolyn turned to me. “It is his grandfather’s wedding ring. Coop was a good man and the best husband a woman could possibly ask for. He took great pride in it. In the meaning of marriage and the commitment it takes. His ring was actually quite important to him. When A.J. was young, Coop had him convinced his wedding ring had superpowers. He told him it kept all the ladies away because the only lady he was interested in was me.”
She let out a little laugh and stayed lost in the memory of it for a few seconds.
“Gran, are you sure?”
“Nothing would please me more.”
A.J. looked at me. “What do you think?”
I burst into tears. Carolyn looked concerned at first, but when I couldn’t talk and started to laugh through the tears, she could see it was a good thing. She gave me a hug.
“Starting our marriage with a ring that signified a good and solid marriage on my parents’ anniversary? I’m good.” I cried some more.
“If you kids want to use a different ring for your wedding ring, A.J., you could just wear this ring on your other hand.”
“No, Gran, thanks. This is perfect.” A.J. leaned in and gave his grandmother a hug. Although his voice was strong, it shook with emotion. “I promise you I’ll make Pappa proud.”
“Oh, A.J., you already do. You always have. The two of you will be very happy.”
We talked for a half an hour. About life. About marriage. About how grateful A.J. and I are that Carolyn is a part of our lives.
Then it was time for my surprise. Of course, I didn’t say it, but I thought it really hard. Kind of willing him to get on with it.
We drove back to the house. All was quiet. Nobody popped out to yell Surprise!
I won’t lie. I was a little disappointed.
“You ready for your surprise?”
“Can’t wait.”
He smiled at me but didn’t move.
“What are we doing?” I admit, I was really confused.
“We’re going somewhere.”
“Do I need to change my clothes?”
“Nope.”
Really? We’re going to celebrate our engagement, and I’m wearing skinny jeans and a t-shirt. I guess a formal meal is out of the question. I don’t see a limo in my near future. I know it isn’t about that kind of stuff, but think about Teagan’s romantic weekend. She got a prom and a big thing in her new backyard. She got a house! I don’t think a nice dinner is asking a lot.
Then again, I did spring it on him last night. It’s not like he could plan anything much. We have been together virtually every minute since I popped the question.
But still.
I made a cognizant decision to enjoy whatever he had planned. I slipped my feet into my new ballet shoes. They actually have a little cush in them. I took my soon-to-be husband’s hand and let go of everything but the minute we were in.
Well, at least for a few minutes.
We drove around for a while. I was almost convinced he was driving in circles to throw me off, when we ended up at our old apartment complex.
What?
He parked by the mailboxes in a reserved spot. The office people are really ugly about that kind of stuff. We’ll be lucky if we don’t get our car towed; I’m not exactly their favorite person. A.J. took my hand, and we walked to the water retention pond.
There was a table set up.
Two chairs.
A tablecloth and everything.
On the table were fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
He even had a screwdriver ready for me. The drink, not the tool.
Just like our first night.
The night I fell in love with him.
Did he know?
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Neither of us said a word. We didn’t have to.
The baby ducks even cooperated. They didn’t come out of the water, but they came over to the side and were so cute I couldn’t stand it.
Over fried chicken — I don’t want to believe the duckies thought of us as cannibals — we talked about our future. Our history. I love that we have a history. We talked about my father going to Ireland and my mother not, and how grateful I am A.J. has taken it upon himself to include my father in everything in our lives.
It’s one thing to know what I need. It’s another to actually put forth the effort to make it so. A.J. always puts in the effort to make what I need a natural part of my life.
Dinner was perfect. Near the end of it, he admitted he had kind of planned the whole thing a while ago. He had intended to officially ask me to marry him. Soon. In front of the duckies. But since I took the initiative, he changed the plan slightly to make it a celebration of having already said yes.
“I know you aren’t the big diamond type.” He smiled at me.
“Let’s not be hasty.” I laughed.
“Cara, I hope you know how much I love you. How sure I am we will have a great life together.” He looked down at the box in his hand. “I need to explain this.”
He opened the box.
Inside was a necklace. He handed it to me.
“It’s beautiful, A.J.”
The locket was heavy. White gold, I think. It had very deep engraving in it. Celtic knotting and words in Irish I wasn’t sure I could read. I said it carefully. “Is tú mo ghrá. Oh, my mother is gonna kill me. I should know this. It means ‘you are my love,’ right?”
“Right.”
“It’s perfect, A.J. Thank you.”
“Open it.”
“It opens?”
“It does.”
Inside on the left was a picture of my mother and father. On the right was a picture of A.J. and me.
“I remember this picture. This is the first picture we ever took together. I hate having my picture taken. I’ve never seen this picture of my mom and Daddy.”
“No one has. I took it. A couple of days before the wreck. It was going to be a surprise. I haven’t shown it to anyone other than your mom. Not even your dad. I gave him all the other shots, but not this one.”
“Wait, what?”
“Your mother called me and asked if I would do a shoot for them. She said she hated to have her picture taken, and there weren’t any good pictures of her and your dad. I said I would do it any time. They came to the studio, and I shot a bunch. Then we went to lunch, and I shot some more. Then some in the park. Your parents were going to hand them out at Christmas. Your father might still, but this one, this one I kept for myself. Your mother said I could.”
“What do you mean? When did you talk to my mother?”
“I had the images on my tablet, and I brought them over to show your parents. Your dad wasn’t home. Your mom made me tea. We looked at all the pictures, and we were talking about me asking you to marry me. Again.”
“She knew?”
“She knew. We talked about the fact that you aren’t like your sister. You wouldn’t want a fancy ring. Your mom said you always said you didn’t even want an engagement ring; all you ever wanted was a thin gold band. So I asked her what she thought you might want instead. She said something like this. A locket. With our picture in it.”
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