Sienna complied and went to check the hot water carafes. She turned on the samovars and hoped they would heat quickly enough for the crowds. Nina opened the door, and Cleotis Reed walked in, followed by forty-something chess players. Jessie directed traffic in the tournament area, while Lettye explained the menu options to those who were seated at tables around the shop.
The morning clipped along to the quiet clink of chess pieces and the occasional polite, “Check” or “Checkmate.” After the first hour, the contenders had thinned significantly; the less experienced players seemed to rush to their own detriment. Most of the players stayed on after they were eliminated, so that the crowd reached capacity by midmorning. They opened the overflow site and invited spectators to cross the street to watch the main tables in high definition streaming video, but they were reluctant to leave.
“We have to get people out of here or the fire department is going to cite us.” Tovah ran her fingers through her hair and tugged the bottom of her crisp white oxford. It was rare to see her friend flustered, but Sienna was secretly happy to be of use to her.
“I have a plan.” She nodded toward the nearly empty pastry case. “Since we’ve done so many extra food sales this morning, we can float an offer. Free tea and cookies for anyone who will go to the overflow site voluntarily. Plus a reminder that the tournament will be called off if we receive a fire code citation.”
“I like it.” Tovah reached out to catch Sienna’s attention as she turned to go spread the word. “Oh, and I’ve asked Nina to start making churros. I’m going to shut down custom stationery orders for anyone who hasn’t already made an appointment today. That will give me leave to make quiches. Please tell me we have eggs. I’ll call Marc and have him bring in some cheese from the farmer’s market.”
“Quiches.” Sienna blinked and tried to remember what was so important about them. “Oh! Yes. I remember. After Elsie Pinkwater brought in her friends, I made half a dozen of the artichoke heart and chevre quiches and froze them. I was going to give them to her next time she comes in, as a very small thank you for connecting us with so much new business. Let’s hope she isn’t a chess fan.”
“Good. That will get us through another hour or so. Who knew chess fans ate so much?”
“It’s their giant brains.”
Tovah rolled her eyes. “Well, go tell the big brains our offer, or we’re going to be so crowded that they knock heads.”
Thankfully, enough of the chess fans were frugal that they accepted the free tea and cookies offer and made their way across the street. The shop still milled with lunching chess enthusiasts and players, and the air grew thick with the smell of sweet dark tea and cinnamon, with an undertone of baked cheese and raspberries to round it out. Lettye circulated with trays filled with mugs of breakfast teas. She brought an empty tray back behind the counter and looked around, concerned. She turned to Sienna, who was measuring out leaves into tea baskets for the samovars.
“How are we supposed to find her?” Lettye asked.
“Beg pardon?” Sienna poured a huge pitcher of hot water into the samovar and turned to look over the packed shop. She followed Lettye’s gaze, but didn’t take her meaning. “Find whom?”
“Our chief investor. Xenia R. Maris. Will she approach us, or wear a nametag? Is she in the tournament?”
“Good question. I hadn’t thought of that.” Sienna riffled through the list of participants. She gasped. “There was a Xenia Maris in the tournament. Early this morning.” She cast a worried look at Lettye. “I hope I didn’t kick her out when I went around enticing people across the street.”
“I’m sure that if you did, you were very polite about it.”
“That must make up for it. Thank you for giving us the money we need to expand our business and accept new commitments. Now, please leave. Here’s a cookie.”
“Exactly. Who could be mad at a cookie?”
Sienna saw Cleotis Reed making his way toward the tea bar. She set the list on the counter and straightened up. “Could you make Mr. Reed’s usual?” She turned to Lettye.
“I’m already on it.” Lettye smiled and decanted boiling water over the black leaves. The scent of fire and barbeque wafted up from the pot. Lettye reached under the counter and pulled out a tin of cheese straws. She held it up to Sienna, who nodded eager approval. The cayenne in the cheddar straws would round out the smoky lapsang souchong that Cleotis favored. Lettye set the steeping tea, a fine china mug, and a plate of cheese straws in front of Cleotis’ seat. “Here you are. On the house, of course.”
“Thank you,” Cleotis said. He ate a cheese straw and sat back a little with a relieved expression. “Perfect.” He poured himself a cup of tea over lump sugar and nodded toward the tournament list. “Who were you all looking for on that list?” He sipped his tea.
“A Ms. Xenia R. Maris. She competed this morning, but we missed her somehow,” Lettye answered.
“And I may have accidentally asked her to buzz off across the street,” Sienna added. She blew out her lips, exasperated. “A fine way to treat someone we’ve been eager to meet.”
“What do you all want with my granddaughter?” Cleotis leaned forward a little, his expression inscrutable. Sienna got a sudden impression of how tough an opponent he might be at the chess table.
“Your granddaughter?” Sienna asked.
“Xenia Reed Maris,” Cleotis said. His eyes softened with suppressed mirth. Sienna blinked as the penny dropped.
“Your granddaughter. The little girl who was at the history department party. She competed in the first three rounds. I remember thinking how she must come from a chess playing family to do so well against adults.” A smile spread slowly over Sienna’s face. Cleotis matched it. “You. Cleotis Reed. You’re our chief investor.”
“Glad to make your acquaintance.” He reached across and shook Sienna’s hand. Lettye shook her head and laughed, then went to tell Tovah the news. Tovah rushed to the tea counter.
“I should have known,” Tovah said. “You knew too much about tea to be disinterested.” She set another plate of cheese straws in front of Cleotis. She frowned and added one of the chocolate pastries she had hoarded for Ms. Maris. Tovah looked level at their patron. “It must have cost you a lot to let people know you frequent this shop. The paper said you were known to be reclusive.”
“The paper only said that because I don’t usually let them know about my little gatherings ahead of time.”
“Secretive, then, and not reclusive.”
“Private, maybe. But as regards my granddaughter’s investment, I have some good news and some bad news for you ladies. The good news is that I can give you the money you requested. But not to cover expenses. That’s the bad news. I want to see expansions if I’m going to extend the investment.”
Tovah exchanged smiles with Lettye and Sienna. “It just so happens,” Tovah said, “That we have plans for you to review. Only a little more big equipment costs, mostly advertizing, extra inventory, and tools. When are you wrapping up the tournament?”
“Around about 5:00 Father Max is coming in. I reckon I’ll be called upon not too long after that.”
“Good. Let’s go to the office, shall we, and I’ll show you our expanded business plan.” Tovah placed the tea things on a tray and led the way to the office. She smiled at Sienna through the door as Cleotis Reed tugged up his trouser legs and graciously sat in her grandfather’s chair.
“Lettye just told me!” Nina said. The girl bounced at Sienna’s elbow. “The shop is saved!”
“Well, it would have been saved anyway, after today. I think Cleotis had his little surprise in mind when he agreed to the tournament,” Sienna grinned.
“It’s like what Father Max and Cleotis were saying about miracles,” Nina said, returning the smile. “They have already happened by the time you think to ask for them.”
Sienna turned to Nina and, on impulse, hugged the girl around the shoulders. Nina beamed under the positive attention. “I think y
ou’re right, Nina.” Sienna smiled. “I think you’re right.”
The next morning, Tovah met Sienna and Nina at the back door. They had arrived early to set up the surprise bridal shower Liz was throwing for Deborah. Sienna was carrying three life sized cardboard cutouts of characters from BBC Jane Austen films. Nina had a basket that held, among other things, four TARDIS teapots and a piñata that looked suspiciously like a handsome actor who played Sherlock Holmes.
“Set those things down.” Tovah took the basket from Nina and leaned Mr. Darcy, Lizzie, and Emma against the wall. “We need to celebrate.”
“I thought we celebrated last night?” Nina said. When Cleotis had defeated Father Max and the congratulatory crowds had finally cleared, the five women of Tea and Crumples had turned on a jazzy soundtrack and cleaned hard for over an hour.
“Did we?” Tovah stopped in her tracks and stared at Nina as though groping for a memory.
“Well, we danced while we cleaned.”
“We have got to have more fun around here.” Tovah looped her arm through Nina’s and pulled her toward the front of the shop. They were met with a pitcher of mimosas, three plates of eggs benedict, fresh fruit, and pastries.
“Tovah, this is a feast!” Sienna said. “The news must be better than I thought.”
“It’s wonderful. All of our classes, the extra ovens, the upstairs office relocation. All approved. We can expand the stationery area and have room for three extra group tables. If the new business comes through from your teacher friends, Nina, we can even plan for a private party room upstairs in a year and a half.”
“Wow.” Sienna sat back and sipped her mimosa. “Those were our dream expansions! I didn’t think we’d get to even seriously consider them for years.”
“Yep. Eat up.” Tovah pointed at their plates with her fork. They ate as she went over details. At length, they covered the schedule of classes they wanted to offer.
“Now, Nina, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.” Sienna lifted her teacup and regarded the young woman beside her. “College. You’re very capable and clever, and now we have evidence that you also excel academically. Do you want to stay with the shop long term, or…?”
“Or?” Nina swallowed and looked nervous, though she managed to keep her tone even.
“Or would you like us to help you invest the extra money from the classes you teach, so you might return to school later?”
“Wait. The extra money from the classes? You mean I get to keep it?”
“Yes. I though that was understood. We’ll have to cover expenses, but then of course the teacher gets a big cut of the tuition fees.”
“But that would be enough money for me to save for anything! I could buy a car or help my sister go to college.”
“Your sister? Not you?” Sienna asked. She looked to Tovah, who shrugged one shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Nina.
“I’ve always wanted to cook and teach. Maybe that means I’ll go to culinary school one day, but I’m not really interested in regular college. I like reading, but that’s not the same as wanting to write assignments on someone else’s schedule. I love math, but I like doing math, not reading about it and jumping through someone’s hoops just to prove it to them for no reason.”
“Okay, then,” Sienna smiled. “It sounds as though you’ve given it thought already.”
“You know,” Tovah said, her gaze still narrowed on Nina, “I could use help with the bookkeeping now that business is picking up again. It will mean you working an extra half day each week. Are Sundays really fine for your schedule? I mean, today’s a special occasion. But weekly?”
“Oh, yes, Miss,” Nina smiled. “I always go to the Saturday evening Mass. The night before counts as the next day.”
“You don’t say,” Tovah smiled. “Very well, then. We’ll set up your schedule after Deborah’s party. We’d better get those props into place.”
Her last sentence was interrupted by a cacophony of knocks at the back door. Sienna rose quickly to answer them, but she swooned a little. She steadied herself on the tea bar and nodded toward her barely touched mimosa. “I’m a lightweight,” she smiled. Her laughter echoed back to the rest of the team when she had opened the door. “Tovah didn’t tell me!”
“What is it, Miss?” Nina asked Tovah.
“You’ll see.” Tovah winked. “An extra little surprise for Deborah’s party.”
Sienna returned to the tearoom wielding a puppet version of a mouse in a teapot. Three children rushed past her to Tovah, each wearing an elaborate hat. Marc Rosen followed, sporting a Mad Hatter-style tophat.
“My dear,” he said, stooping to kiss Tovah’s cheek.
“Mommy! Mommy! Can we have some?” The children pointed at the pastries still stacked between the women.
“Yes, but you’ll need to eat them off plates so you don’t get crumbs all over the clean floor.”
“I’ve got them,” Marc said. He passed a small stack of fancy plates to his wife.
“Okay. Here you go. Both hands—” Tovah began. But her middle child had already dropped a plate on the floor. It crashed with a tinkling shatter, and Tovah shook her head. “Oy vey,” she muttered.
“Here, let me,” Sienna said, grabbing a small dustpan and hand broom from behind the tea counter. She knelt next to Tovah and began sweeping while Marc and Lettye ushered the children to seats.
“You know, SiSi,” Tovah said, a half-smile playing over her face, “delicacy with china is not a hereditable trait.” She placed a large shard of broken plate onto the dustpan Sienna held, then leaned back to look at her friend. “You should remember that, now that you’re in a family way.”
“In a fam—? What?” Sienna gaped.
“Hungry, swooning, staring off into corners. I know that look.”
“Oh.” Sienna lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe.”
“Well, when the time comes, just remember. There’s no shame in making the kids eat off plastic for a few years.” Tovah tipped the shards from the dustpan into a trash bin. “It saves a lot of clean up.”
Sienna made to reply, but she was prevented by the jingling of the bell as Bethel Bailey bustled in, drawing along another brunette in her wake. The woman shared Bethel’s curving smile and bright eyes, but she was a good half-foot taller. She walked primly despite Bethel’s urgent tugging on her arm.
“Sienna!” Bethel said, arriving with effort at the tea bar, “Please allow me to introduce my sister, Ava Stone. She’s wanting to go into the tea business.”
“How do you do?” Ava asked, extending her hand to Sienna. She was formal but warm, and though the smile on her lips was small, it started at her eyes. “I hope it’s no trouble for me to burst in on a Sunday like this, but Bethel says you won’t mind.”
“I never mind meeting new friends,” Sienna said, returning the smile. She gestured toward a table. “Please make yourselves comfortable, and I’ll bring a tray.” Sienna glanced toward Bethel and Ava. They reminded Sienna of nothing so much as a chicken and swan as they whispered to one another, the one fluttering and clucking, the other serenely replying in a staid manner. Yet their love for one another was clear. Sienna had no trouble following that love into an idea about the perfect tea for Ms. Ava Stone.
“Here you are. Your usual, Bethel, and for Ms. Ava, a fine golden Yunnan.” Sienna set out the pots and mugs and placed a plate of cookies and mini scones on the table. “May I?” She poured the fine, fragrant tea into Ava’s mug.
Ava lifted the mug, allowed the steam to draw her attention, and sipped. “Wonderful,” she said to Sienna, and to Bethel, “You were right. I owe you a paddleboat ride.”
“A paddleboat ride?” Sienna asked, sitting back.
“Ava bet me you couldn’t guess her favorite tea without knowing anything about her. So I said yes, you could, and I wanted her to give me a paddleboat ride when I was proved right.”
“Bethel loves paddleboats, but they tire her quickly,” Ava said delicately, cutting her
eyes in a diagonal to emphasize the difference in their heights.
“Well, anyhow, I haven’t had a place to ride them since we were girls.” She scooped sugar and poured cream into her mug, then topped it up with dark tea. “That’s why I brought Ava to see you. She’s going to bring back the lake! And, well, I’ll let her tell you about the rest.”
“Mrs. Bannock,” Ava began.
“Sienna. Please,” Sienna nodded graciously.
“Sienna,” Ava acknowledged. “What Bethel means is that our family used to own a lake. We still do, but we had to drain it in the 80’s to keep college kids from using it as a midnight swimming hole. Safety hazard, you know, what with all the rocks.” She paused and sipped her tea. “This is delightful, by the way.” She smiled the small smile again. “It used to be a quarry, you see, but it was a lake for over a hundred years.”
“And Ava is going to turn it back into one, only this time it will have a tearoom built with a patio right out over it, just like she saw in the Lake District in England!” Bethel gulped the remainder of her tea and started the process of refilling it.
“A tearoom?” Sienna asked. “How lovely. And is it going to have paddleboats?”
“For Bethel, yes.” Ava nudged her sister lightly. “But for customers, a few canoes. It’s not a large lake, but there are beautiful old willows along the edge of the quarry where you can laze and hide away a bit.”
“It’s really romantic,” Bethel said.
“Where is it?” Sienna asked. “I don’t think I’ve heard of a quarry that used to be a lake—”
“That used to be a quarry,” Bethel smiled.
“It’s in the northern part of the county, not far from where the river splits,” Ava said. “That’s why I thought maybe you could help. We wouldn’t really be competition, being a good half hour away.”
“More like a compliment,” Sienna said. “I mean the businesses and the fact that you asked me for advice. I mean, assuming you’d like my advice. Maybe you just wanted to share the good news?”
“Oh, I’d love advice!” Ava was suddenly much more animated. “Right now, I have a property, some funding, and a dream. But everything else I need to learn.”
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