by Laura Childs
“But without the annoying music,” Drayton said. He paused for a minute. “No. What this is . . . the lighting and the fact that our table settings resemble a still life . . . is reminiscent of a Rembrandt painting. Or possibly a Vermeer.” His hands carved shapes in the air. “Some parts highlighted, others left in the dark. You know, that lovely chiaroscuro, the subtle interplay of shadow and light.”
Theodosia smiled. “How very poetic and apropos.”
23
Theodosia and Drayton were dressed to the nines in honor of their Candlelight Tea. Theodosia had changed into a pale-peach silk blouse tucked into a long silver satin skirt. She’d added a peach lipstick, a sweep of black mascara, and swept her abundance of auburn hair up into a fun, messy do. Drayton had exchanged his tweed jacket for a severely tailored dark-blue cashmere jacket.
“Do you think I should switch out my bow tie as well?” he asked.
“The polka-dot tie for what?” Theodosia asked.
“I was thinking my burgundy silk.”
“Go for it.”
“You guys look so elegant,” Haley said. “And here I am with a big old white mushroom perched on top of my head.”
“A chef’s hat,” Theodosia said. “And a well-deserved, hard-earned professional white jacket. Because you’re an honest-to-goodness chef.”
Haley scrunched up her face and looked at her. “You think so? It’s not like I’ve earned enough credits yet for a culinary school degree.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Theodosia nodded. “You’ve proved your skills time and again to us. You’ve won major baking contests and you’ve certainly won the hearts and minds of our tea shop customers. Why, you’ve even had several of your recipes featured in the Post and Courier.”
“Well . . . yeah. And some of my granny’s, too.”
“That’s your pedigree. And it’s a fine one,” Theodosia said. “So please don’t ever think that you’re not as good as anyone else. And please don’t be nervous tonight when we bring you out for an introduction and a round of applause.”
“You’d do that? Really?”
“Our guests would expect nothing less. They’ll want to thank the chef who cooked their delicious dinners.”
• • •
At six o’clock on the button their guests began to arrive. They shuffled in excitedly, not sure what to expect. But eager smiles changed to absolute wonderment as soon as they saw the tea tables bathed in soft candlelight, the sparkling dishware and crystal, and the dreamy rose bouquets. The mood was further set with the lovely painting that hung on the wall and Drayton’s beloved classical music playing over the sound system.
“This is spectacular,” Honey Whitley exclaimed as she hustled into the tea shop on the arm of her husband, Michael. “It’s like your tea shop underwent a complete metamorphosis.”
“That’s because it did,” Theodosia said. “From cute and cozy to four-star elegance.”
“I wish our dining room looked this good,” Michael lamented as Honey just patted his arm.
More guests arrived. Some of Drayton’s friends from the Heritage Society, Angie Congdon from the Featherbed House B and B with her new boyfriend, Brooke Carter Crockett from Heart’s Desire, and at least two dozen other tea shop regulars.
Delaine showed up looking anxious and frazzled because her date had canceled at the last minute. That problem was immediately smoothed over when Jemma Lee showed up without Big Reggie, and Drayton seated the two women together at a small table by the window. They immediately put their heads together and began buzzing excitedly about fashion, makeup, and local celebs.
And, surprise, surprise, Doreen and Opal Anne showed up.
“We weren’t expecting you,” Theodosia said. She’d been checking names off her reservation list and their names were definitely not there.
Doreen immediately confronted Opal Anne. “Didn’t you make reservations? I told you to make reservations.”
“You told me you were going to make reservations,” Opal Anne said patiently.
“It’s not a problem, ladies,” Theodosia said. “We’ve got room.” Thank goodness for those last two available seats!
Doreen put a hand on Theodosia’s arm and said in her I’m-telling-you-a-special-secret voice, “Did you know that Starla was taken in for questioning today?”
“I did hear that,” Theodosia said.
“It’s shocking,” Doreen said, her eyes going buggy, her curls jiggling nervously. “Apparently, the police found one of Starla’s business cards crumpled in the car trunk of that man who got hanged.” She was practically drooling with excitement, hopped up like she was high on crystal meth. “And the wire cord that was used to hang him—it was the same kind that was used to anchor . . .”
Opal Anne cut in suddenly to cap off the story. “The cord was the exact same kind used for anchoring tents. And Starla had just honchoed a charity fun run in Hampton Park last week.”
“Where they had tents set up!” Doreen crowed.
“Do you know . . . was it the exact same kind of wire cord?” Theodosia asked.
“We’re still waiting to hear,” Opal Anne said.
“This could change everything,” Doreen said, looking grim.
Or it could change nothing, Theodosia thought.
“Still,” Opal Anne said, “Starla’s innocent until proven guilty.”
“I guess,” Doreen said. “Anyway, we thought we’d share that bit of news with you. It threw our day off quite a bit and is part of the reason why we’re in need of a calm, relaxing evening.”
Opal Anne nudged Doreen. “Tell her the good news.”
Doreen’s eyes bugged out. “Oh, I almost forgot. I got a call from Robert Steele just as we were leaving tonight. He said that, under the present circumstances, he was perfectly fine with refunding Beau’s investment. Really my investment.” She clapped her hands together. “And of course I said yes.”
“Of course you did.” Theodosia smiled.
“Theodosia,” Opal Anne said. “Do I detect your fine hand behind Robert Steele’s change of heart?”
“Let’s just say Steele and I had a little chat,” Theodosia said.
“You are a wonder,” Doreen said, goggling at her. “How can I ever thank you?”
Maybe by taking your seats so I can tend to my other guests?
Taking the bull by the horns and Doreen by the arm, Theodosia led her to one of the tables. “Are you still planning to hold your grand opening party tomorrow night?” Theodosia asked politely. Doreen was clearly down to the wire on her spa’s big party.
“Yes, we’re doing it,” Doreen said. “Although we’d been counting on Starla to take charge.” She sighed. “Too late to cancel. Now I suppose it’s all up to Reggie Huston.”
“If there’s anything I can do,” Theodosia said.
“We’d love it if you brought over some tea,” Doreen said as she settled into her chair. “We were thinking that, besides serving champagne and fruit juices, a spot of tea would be nice for our guests. It just seems very healthy.”
“I’ll run some tea over to Gilded Magnolia Spa tomorrow afternoon,” Theodosia said.
“Thank you,” Doreen said. She patted Opal Anne’s hand. “But tonight we’re going to enjoy a well-deserved respite from our problems.”
“I’m still surprised you’re out and about,” Theodosia said. “After all, Beau’s funeral was only yesterday.”
“I’m feeling somewhat better,” Doreen said. “Opal Anne tells me I have to be social and try to get my life back to normal, no matter where this investigation goes. So that’s what I’m doing. Besides,” Doreen confided, “Opal Anne’s been having boyfriend problems, so this Candlelight Tea is a nice cozy respite for us both.”
Opal Anne squirmed in her chair. “You don’t have to blab to everybody.”
“It’s
okay, dear, we’re all friends here,” Doreen said.
Theodosia looked out over the crowd and thought, Are we really?
• • •
“Welcome,” Theodosia said as she stood facing her guests. “Welcome to the Indigo Tea Shop and our Candlelight Tea.” There was a smatter of applause and then she continued. “We’re thrilled you could join us tonight and excited to be serving you a very special four-course dinner. As you might expect, our tea master, Drayton, has carefully matched each individual course with the perfect complementary tea.”
“The first tea we’ll be serving tonight,” Drayton said, stepping in, “will be a Darjeeling from the Longview Tea Estate. Located in the southwest region of India’s Darjeeling region, Longview tea is a complex black tea that should make a fine pairing with our first course of dilled crawfish.”
That was Theodosia’s cue to grab the teapots that Drayton had placed on the counter and begin pouring tea. Drayton grabbed two more teapots of his freshly brewed Darjeeling, and they both set to work. Then they rushed into the kitchen, grabbed the small plates of crawfish that Haley had set out, and rushed them back to their guests.
The second course was a salmon and asparagus tart served with Cheddar cheese scones. That was accompanied with Earl Grey tea.
“This is spectacular,” Honey Whitley said. “I’d really love to steal your chef and put her to work at the Scarborough Inn.”
“Not a chance of that,” Theodosia told her.
As plates were being scraped down to the last morsel and compliments practically shouted out, Theodosia brought Haley out for a well-deserved round of applause. Haley grinned, bowed, turned beet red, and then dashed back into the kitchen.
“What Haley didn’t have time to tell you,” Theodosia said to her guests, “is that our third course, our main entrée, consists of beef bourguignonne.”
“And we’re pairing it with a Tippy Yunnan black tea,” Drayton said.
“Goodness,” Doreen said. “This is as exciting as a food and wine pairing at a four-star restaurant.”
“Isn’t this imaginative?” Michael Whitley said.
To serve their more complex entrée, Theodosia and Drayton were assisted by Haley. In a carefully choreographed move, they all three brought out the beef bourguignonne entrées and served them with a flourish.
“Now we can relax,” Theodosia whispered to Drayton. “Now that everyone has been served, the complicated part is pretty much over.”
“You’re right,” Drayton said. “Dessert will be a snap. Those small bowls of trifle can practically be brought out on two trays.”
“We’re coming down the home stretch.”
“And everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”
“Drayton,” one of the guests called out, “can you tell us a little more about this divine tea?”
Drayton put on his game face and strode to the center of the room. “Certainly. A Tippy Yunnan is from China’s Yunnan province. The leaves of this big-leafed black tea have golden flecks and when brewed yield a pleasant peppery flavor that—”
Crash! Bam!
The front door banged open hard, ushering in a whoosh of cool air. Then, like a scary clown popping out of a jack-in-the-box, Starla Crane came flying in. Her face was pulled into a grim, determined mask, her dark hair kinked around her head like an angry Medusa, and her eyes blazed with fury.
Flustered, Drayton turned to face her and said, “Excuse me, we’re in the middle of . . .”
Starla blew him off completely. She thundered past Drayton, clipping his shoulder and practically spinning him around in a circle. Then she launched herself directly at Theodosia like some kind of rabid wolverine.
“You!” Starla shrieked at the top of her lungs. “You did this! You put the police on me!”
24
“Now, just one minute,” Theodosia said in a controlled, chilly-as-ice voice. No way was she going to let this crazy lady come charging into her tea shop and try to hijack her event. She grabbed Starla by the shoulders, spun her around, and gave her a hard shove.
Whoom.
Starla was propelled through the velvet curtain that separated the back office and kitchen from the front of the shop.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Theodosia hissed as she caught up to a breathless, stumbling Starla.
“This is all your fault,” Starla cried.
“You are so out of line,” Theodosia said, trying to keep her voice low. “I had nothing to do with your being questioned by the police.”
“I don’t believe you!”
A second later, Opal Anne hurriedly brushed past the velvet curtain and came to Theodosia’s defense. “Believe her,” Opal Anne said. “Theodosia had nothing to do with your being questioned. Didn’t the police give you the full story? Didn’t they tell you what happened?”
“No,” Starla said, her eyes still blazing. “They just asked me the same horrible questions over and over again.” She took a step backward and found herself halfway into the kitchen.
“Hey, watch it, lady,” Haley called out. “You’re getting a little too close to my tipsy cake!”
“Come into my office,” Theodosia said. “Let’s try to sort this out calmly and rationally.”
Reluctantly, Starla followed her back, with Opal Anne trailing them.
“Please believe me,” Theodosia said. “I had nothing to do with your being interrogated by the police.” Well, kind of nothing.
“But you know Detective Riley,” Starla spat out. “He told me so.”
“Yes, I know him,” Theodosia said. “But I’m not assisting him.” Not exactly.
“Starla,” Opal Anne said. “Theodosia would never try to throw you under the bus like that.”
Oh yes, I would, Theodosia thought.
“Theodosia’s on our side,” Opal Anne continued, trying to reason with Starla. “She’s on all of our sides.”
“Do you have any idea how humiliated I was?” Starla asked. Now her lower lip began to quiver and tears rolled down her cheeks. “I was yanked out of a business meeting and taken down to a police station. They made me sit on a wooden chair in the same dirty, crappy room where they interrogate criminals!”
“I’m sure it wasn’t nearly as humiliating as the scene you just created in front of my guests,” Theodosia said.
“They questioned me for hours!” Starla cried. “Hours.”
“And what came of it?” Theodosia asked. Then she hastened to answer her own question. “They let you go. Obviously, they don’t view you as a viable suspect.”
“It was just my business card,” Starla blubbered. “I have no idea how it even got inside that car trunk. I pass out so many cards, it could have come from anywhere. I’m proud of my company, for gosh sakes.”
“We understand,” Opal Anne said.
Starla wiped at her eyes as she gazed at Opal Anne. “You’re not going to hold this against me?”
“Of course not,” Opal Anne said.
“What about Doreen?” Starla asked. “She’s one of my most important clients. What does she think?”
“That’s something you’re going to have to deal with yourself,” Opal Anne hedged. “All I can say is she’s not very happy.”
“But this is not the time nor place to sort out any hard feelings,” Theodosia said to Starla. “Right now, the best thing, the smartest thing, is for you to go home.”
“I . . . I suppose.” Starla sniffled. She wiped at her eyes again and looked around Theodosia’s office. Her red-rimmed eyes landed on the door leading out to the alley. “This way again, huh?”
Theodosia nodded. “I think that would be best.”
• • •
An hour and a half later, the Candlelight Tea was pretty much just a memory. Haley’s delicious tipsy cake and Drayton’s cinnamon spice tea for dessert had
helped gloss over Starla’s bizarre interruption. And the guests, sated with good food and fine conversation, had pretty much finished their dinner without giving Starla a second mention. Eventually, they stood up and stretched, shook hands with one another, exchanged a few air kisses, and even did a little shopping.
Delaine and Jemma left arm in arm, dashing off to some other event, while the rest of the guests slowly trickled out the door and into the cool night air.
Finally, just the three of them were left—Theodosia, Drayton, and Haley—to do their tea shop ballet. They stacked dishes, cleared tables, and swished out teapots. It didn’t take them long; they were a well-rehearsed troupe who’d done this many times before.
“I almost hate to blow out the candles,” Drayton said. “The dancing flames are so gorgeous. But most have only burned down halfway so we can certainly use them again.”
“And it doesn’t hurt to leave a few of them burning,” Theodosia said. “Makes the old place look nice and moody.”
“Whew,” Haley said, twining her hair up into a topknot and then pulling on a leather baseball jacket. “What an evening. And could you believe that Starla person? I mean, what a squirrel to come storming in like that and try to ruin our tea?”
“Starla didn’t ruin it,” Theodosia said. “She just added a little excitement.”
“She’s certainly a few berries short of a trifle,” Drayton said.
“Maybe I should burn some sage to help get rid of her lingering evil presence,” Haley said.
“I believe Theodosia dispatched with Starla’s lingering rather handily,” Drayton said. “She punted her out the back door.”
Haley grinned. “Twinkle, twinkle, little Starla. How I wonder where you arla.” She stuck a baseball cap on her head and then twisted it around backward. “Okay, I’m taking off. I’ve got the kitchen pretty much packed up and the dishwasher running, so I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Good night,” Theodosia called as Haley quickly disappeared out the back door.