In Cold Chamomile

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In Cold Chamomile Page 13

by Joy Avon


  Callie nodded, not really listening or caring. A group of women flocked to Book Tea, having just come off a tour bus. They were chatting busily, pointing out shops down the street to one another, apparently intending to go shopping after they’d had tea.

  Peggy said, “We’d better get busy. And keep our eyes and ears open.”

  Callie hemmed. “I think Ace can handle this one on his own.”

  Peggy gave her a startled look. “You do?”

  Callie shrugged it off and was happy to step into Book Tea’s warmth and buzz of voices. It would be good to be busy for a while and not think of all the trouble they had ended up in.

  Chapter Twelve

  At lunchtime Quinn came into Book Tea. Callie recognized his tall posture and blond head right away, and her breath caught as she wondered how Peggy would respond to his arrival. She kept her eyes on Peggy’s face as she took an order and then turned away from the table, scanning the crowd for new arrivals who might also want to be served. As she saw Quinn near the entrance, she froze and stared at him with a vulnerable expression on her face, then turned and rushed into the kitchen. Quinn narrowed his eyes a moment, as if he was undecided, then pushed forward and followed her.

  Callie didn’t think a confrontation would help, especially not in the kitchen where the other helpers were at work, and headed to intercept him. She tapped him on the shoulder. “Hi, Quinn. Can I help you?”

  “I want to talk to Peggy.”

  “Right now might not be the best time.”

  “I’ve been calling her since yesterday, but she isn’t answering the phone.” Quinn’s breath rasped. “I want to talk to her. Explain. Ask her to come to lunch with me.”

  Callie took a deep breath.

  “Please?” Quinn said.

  Callie wanted to say no, then realized that as long as Peggy avoided answering the phone and Quinn didn’t stop calling, nothing would be solved. “All right, I’ll ask her. But I can’t guarantee she’ll say yes.”

  “Of course not—just ask her. It would mean the world to me if we could just talk it over.”

  Callie felt uncomfortable under Quinn’s pleading gaze, as she had a sinking feeling Peggy wouldn’t want to go to lunch with him. With a heavy heart, she walked into the kitchen. Peggy was filling cups and putting muffins on plates. There was no one else there, which might not last long, so Callie said quickly, “Quinn wants to know if you want to go to lunch with him.”

  “So you’re Quinn’s mouthpiece now?” Peggy sounded harassed.

  “I’m just conveying a message. I don’t think he’ll leave unless you say something. Go to lunch with him, or promise you’ll answer his calls later today, or … something, anything.”

  “You have no idea what this is like, and you’re telling me what to do?” Peggy looked her over with flashing eyes.

  “I’m just trying to—”

  “Yes, everyone is trying, but I’m the one with the—” Peggy burst into tears and ran out through the back door.

  Callie followed her. Outside, she caught sight of Peggy, who had run smack into Ace. He held her by the shoulders and asked what on earth was wrong. Peggy said something, pushed past him, and vanished. Ace looked at Callie. His expression was puzzled, then turned cold. “Peggy doesn’t need you to tell her how to run her life.”

  “Oh, really?” Callie said.

  “She just told me you want her to do something she doesn’t want to do.”

  “Great. Run to your big brother and complain. Last time someone I knew did that, we were in kindergarten.” Callie turned away and went back inside. She slammed the door in his face.

  She was certain he would leave, and her heart beat fast as she realized she didn’t even know why he had come. Had he wanted to talk about that morning? Listen to her explanation maybe? Why was she yelling at him now? Ruining everything? Before she could slap herself, however, Ace opened the door and came in. He looked around the kitchen, making sure they were alone, and then said, “I need to talk to Iphy. I want her to hear it from me and not via the grapevine.”

  Callie’s heart rate sped up even more. “Is it bad news?”

  “It’s for her to decide if she wants to tell you or not.”

  Oh yes, of course. Iphy could just decide not to tell her, and then she would be cut off completely. Everyone blaming her for something she couldn’t help either! That Quinn had expressed his feelings for Peggy, that someone had died … “Fine, I’ll go get her.”

  Iphy was just saying goodbye to some regulars, accompanying them to the door and waving them off. When she turned, Callie waved to attract her attention, and Iphy came over at once.

  Callie said, “Falk is in the kitchen. He wants to tell you some news. I can’t be there, and you have to decide if you want to tell me what it is.” As she walked away to take an order, a hand landed on her arm, and she found Quinn beside her, asking what Peggy had said.

  Callie had to refocus a moment to remember what he was talking about. Oh yes, Peggy and his request for her to go to lunch with him. “She doesn’t want to come right now. It might be better to try and talk to her later.”

  Quinn said, “Did you tell her how important this is to me?”

  “I didn’t get much of a chance.”

  “But I need someone to plead my case. Callie, please.”

  Callie felt like her head was about to burst. They all wanted something, and she genuinely did want to help them, but it was just getting her into more and more trouble, and she was done with it.

  “If Peggy doesn’t want to talk to you right now, that’s her choice. Following her around isn’t making it any better.”

  Quinn seemed to accept her words, hanging his head and nodding. But as Callie turned away to take the order, at last, he suddenly made a dash for the kitchen.

  No!

  Leaving the startled customers, Callie darted after him and just witnessed him barging into the kitchen saying, “Peggy, I never meant to make you cry, but—”

  Ace straightened up from where he had been leaning against the sink, his expression becoming suddenly alert and watchful. Callie would rather have run off than see what happened next, but she wasn’t fast enough. “You made Peggy cry? I knew you were no good from the moment I laid eyes on you. I should never have let you near her or the boys.”

  Quinn looked around the kitchen, confused. “Where’s Peggy?”

  “She left,” Callie said.

  Ace looked at her, comprehension lighting in his eyes. “You wanted her to do something she didn’t want to do. You put pressure on her to listen to this guy’s lousy excuses.”

  “No,” Callie and Quinn said in unison, but Ace didn’t listen at all.

  He stood there, gesturing wildly. “Just leave her alone, okay?” Ace made a move toward the back door, when Quinn said, “If she left to be alone, she doesn’t want to see you either.”

  It was silent in the kitchen for a few moments, during which time Callie felt like everything was in slow motion. Like you see something sliding and falling to the floor, but you can’t catch it in time, and you’re already waiting for the bang as it shatters and the shards go everywhere. She was certain Ace would jump at Quinn and grab and shake him, and tell him he was the last person who had the right to say something like that.

  But Ace didn’t jump or do anything. He just watched them as if he was letting it all sink in, and then he said in a cold, remote voice, as if he were an answering machine, “I was giving Iphy some information she needs to hear. Could you both please leave?”

  Quinn took a deep breath like he was gearing up for an argument, when Callie grabbed his arm and hissed, “Leave!” and ushered him out of the kitchen. She was glad Ace hadn’t done anything rash, but she wasn’t so sure that deep down inside he hadn’t decided on something rash anyway, just something that didn’t immediately show itself in his actions.

  “I want to talk to Peggy,” Quinn said. “She just misunderstood. If she needs more time, I’ll give it to her. I
never meant to hurt her. Honestly, Callie.” He stood there, staring down into her eyes, apparently oblivious to the fact that they were now back in the tearoom, and people were casting them curious looks.

  Callie said in a whisper, “Go—and don’t contact Peggy right now. I’ll call you later, and we’ll talk about it. Promise. Just don’t make it any worse.”

  “He’ll do that for me,” Quinn said, pointing at the door into the kitchen. “I bet he told her I’m no good for her and the boys. He just said as much.”

  Callie shook her head. “Ace just misunderstood. He doesn’t know what you said to Peggy that made her cry. He probably thinks she’s serious about you, and you’re not about her.”

  “Of course you have to defend him. After all, he is your boyfriend.” Quinn sounded almost disgusted. “I’m leaving. And don’t call me. What for? I’ll figure this out myself.”

  Callie stood there, completely deflated. First Iphy had accused her of being Ace’s mouthpiece; now Quinn thought the same of her. Peggy believed she was advocating for Quinn, while Ace thought …

  Callie raised a hand to her head. She couldn’t take it anymore. But with Peggy gone and Iphy detained in the kitchen to hear Ace’s news, she couldn’t just leave. There was a tearoom to run here. She forced a smile and walked to the table where the customers were still waiting to have their order taken. “Things are a bit hectic,” she explained. “Have you made your choice?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  After the rush of lunchtime customers was over, Callie had a moment to go find Iphy. Her great-aunt was putting the final touches on a fairytale cake for a young customer that would be picked up later that afternoon. Tiny roses decorated the castle where Sleeping Beauty rested on a bed of marzipan, her frosted hair streaming down the bed to the floor, where a cute little dog also lay snoozing. Almost too pretty to eat, Callie concluded absentmindedly, as she watched her great-aunt’s busy hands putting a marzipan flag on the castle’s tallest tower. It was pink with a tiny gold crown decoration. Iphy always worked out the smallest details to perfection.

  Callie’s throat constricted at the idea of how much she loved Iphy and Book Tea and what they had together, and how sad it was that they had argued about someone who had been away from Iphy’s life for so long. What was it about Sean Strong that had immediately engaged Iphy again?

  Callie said softly, “Ace said you don’t need to tell me what his news was, and I’m fine with that, really. But I just want to know if you’re all right.”

  Iphy glanced at her. “Fine.” She took her time attaching one more tiny rose to the castle wall and then said, “As if Falk would keep anything from you.”

  “Oh, believe me, he would.” Callie got a mug and filled it with coffee. Iphy didn’t speak. Callie was certain she would just ignore her and finish the cake, but then Iphy came to stand beside her. “Falk didn’t tell you?”

  “He didn’t even hint at what it was.” Callie sipped and winced as the hot coffee hit her tongue and palate.

  Iphy asked, “Did you argue about this thing with Quinn and Peggy? I have no idea what happened, but it seems they fought, and everyone is upset about it. It sounded like Falk—”

  Callie raised a hand. The whole explosive situation was still fresh on her mind, and she didn’t need her great-aunt to rehash it and bring up the emotions again. She also wanted to resist the temptation to tell Iphy that the friction with Ace had started because of Iphy’s insistence they get involved with the murder case. But she wanted to get her great-aunt to open up to her about her past with Sean Strong, and blaming her now would not help that. “Let’s not talk about what Ace does and doesn’t do. I just want you to know I’m here for you if you want to talk. This whole thing with Sean Strong … I’m worried for you.”

  “For me?” Iphy snorted. She grabbed a tea towel to rub some reddish marzipan leftovers off her fingers. “I can manage.”

  Callie sighed. “Fine.” She blew into her coffee.

  Iphy said, “I do need your help, of course, to get him off the hook.”

  “Which hook?”

  “The murder accusation.” Iphy eyed her as if she wondered what Callie had been thinking. “My past with Sean is one thing, this whole murder business another. He’s accused, and it sounds serious.”

  Callie looked doubtful. “We shouldn’t get involved. We have no idea why he really came here.”

  “That’s just it.” Iphy looked dejected. “I fear Sean came here for me, and now the police interpret it as if he came to kill someone.”

  Callie focused on her coffee for a few moments and then said, “Sorry, Iphy, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but it seems highly unlikely that a man who came here for a simple reason like visiting an old friend wouldn’t simply tell that to the police if it can clear him of suspicion. At least of the suspicion of having looked for a chance to meet with the murder victim and kill him.”

  “I know, but it’s all so painful. Sean is a gentleman; he didn’t want to get me involved in it.”

  “You already are involved in it. You went to the station to plead for Sean.”

  “But he doesn’t know that, I suppose. Why would Falk have told him that?” Iphy fidgeted with a tea towel. “Sean just doesn’t want word of the whole thing getting around.”

  “To protect your good name or his own?” Callie tilted her head, trying to understand how everything fit together.

  “How much do you know? I suppose Achilles never mentioned it.”

  Callie blinked. “You mean Grandfather?” Achilles Aspen, Iphy’s brother, was a fond memory from Callie’s childhood, when she had visited his house and looked at his amazing book collection and played with the tin soldiers he had collected. Although he had died before Callie had turned eight, she still remembered those afternoons with a warm feeling inside. “What does Grandfather have to do with Sean Strong?”

  Iphy sighed and folded the tea towel in half, then quarters.

  Suddenly Callie understood why she had been so reluctant to share about the past. It involved more people than just her and Sean Strong, people Callie knew and cared for. Her heart sank at the idea that she would learn anything here which would change her opinion of her dear, book-loving grandfather. For if his role in all of it had been innocent, Iphy wouldn’t have needed to keep it from her.

  “I set up Book Tea with money I borrowed from Achilles.” Iphy’s voice was soft and wistful. “In those times, it wasn’t as common as it is nowadays for a woman to start a business on her own, and my parents were traditional, not open to the idea at all. But Achilles believed in me. In lending me the money, he went against our father’s wishes, which was something momentous. I loved Achilles for it, but I also felt indebted to him. Not just to repay the money as soon as I could, but also to make him proud, show him I deserved his faith in me. and that he hadn’t alienated Father for nothing. Then I met Sean.”

  Iphy stared ahead, lost in memories. “It was the start of the summer season, tourists were flocking in, and this handsome man appeared in my tearoom, complimenting me on my coffee, saying it was better than what he’d had all over the world. He told me about Paris and Vienna and places I had only read about and dreamed of. He asked me to have dinner with him sometime, and eager to hear more about all the cities he had been to, I agreed. After dinner we walked by the ocean. He bought me ice cream at a little stand, and …”

  Iphy’s expression was tender. “It was so easy to fall in love. It would have been perfect, I suppose, if he had lived nearby. If we could have seen more of each other, gotten engaged in due time, and then married. But Sean had engagements in Europe. He was leaving again soon. He asked me to come with him. He said that someone as talented as I was would find work soon enough in a patisserie.”

  Callie recalled Strong referring to this when they had sat with him in the Cliff Hotel’s bar. “You didn’t want to come along because you would be an employee elsewhere, and here Book Tea was yours,” she paraphrased her great-aunt’s words. />
  “That’s what I said to Sean, recently and in the past. But my real reason was Achilles. I didn’t want to let him down by leaving. Father would never have stopped telling Achilles how he had made me all wild, lending me money and getting ideas into my head, eventually leading me to throw all caution to the wind and run off with a man. Father and Mother would have blamed Achilles for my choice, and as the eldest son, he would have been mortified.”

  Iphy smoothed the tea towel. “Family meant so much to me. How could I risk it all for something silly like being in love? I knew Sean so little, I—yes, it felt like we were meant to be together, and I longed to just go away with him, but …”

  She smiled sadly. “I didn’t dare take the chance. He had bought tickets for Vienna, you know, for both of us. He told me to pack my things and meet him at the harbor around eight PM, and from there we would leave for the airport. My heart clenched at the idea of leaving Heart’s Harbor, Book Tea, of ruining Achilles’ faith in me, and … I didn’t tell Sean I wasn’t coming when we kissed goodbye that day. I was too much of a coward for that. I couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in his expression or face his questions. I asked him once how his family felt about his traveling, and he told me they were barely in touch, so I knew the concept of family didn’t mean the same to him as it did to me. I went home and considered everything, and I didn’t go to the meeting at the harbor. Around eight thirty, Sean came to Book Tea and knocked on the door, and I pretended not to be there. I was on my bed, crying.”

  Iphy blinked. Her eyes seemed to be full of tears as she recalled it. “I let him down, believing it was for the best. Falling in love and rushing off to Europe was just silly, nothing for a clever businesswoman like I was. I was afraid of people’s opinion of me, about Achilles’ opinion, my parents’, and deep down inside, I was also afraid Sean’s feelings would pass quickly, and he would leave me all alone in a strange country where I knew no one. That I would have to come back home in shame.”

 

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