by Terri DuLong
“Oh, Yarrow, this looks great.”
Six circular wrought-iron tables and chairs filled one side, and behind the separating counter were a small countertop range and mini fridge. A wooden hutch held an assortment of pastel cups and saucers while a rack on the wall had brightly colored mugs hanging from it. The entire counter next to Yarrow’s prep area held glass jars of various teas.
“Thanks,” she said. “Here you go. Ginger lemon is the choice for today.”
Mavis walked toward us and nodded as she made her way to a chair.
“Very nice, Yarrow. It looks beautiful.”
She held up the mug of tea her niece had given her. “Here’s to us,” she said. “And a very successful business.”
“To our business,” both Yarrow and I said.
“Anybody here?” we heard a voice call from the walkway outside.
I saw the look of annoyance that crossed Mavis’s face.
“Louise Blackstone, you are not supposed to be here. We don’t open for three more days.”
Louise peeked her head just inside the French doors. “I know that,” she said. “But I’m not here as a customer. I’m here as a friend. I wanted to help.”
Mavis let out a sigh and gestured toward the door. “Oh, all right. Come on in.”
Louise stepped inside, her gaze taking in the entire area, and she gasped. “Oh, my goodness. It’s just gorgeous. I love it.”
“Would you like some tea?” Yarrow asked.
“Oh, that would be great, but . . . I . . . have my little Ramona in the car. I can’t leave her out there.” She spied Basil, who had run over to greet her. “Do you think . . .”
I laughed. “Sure. Go bring Ramona in. She can play outside with Basil.”
“Oh, thank you,” she called, as she rushed back through the French doors.
Mavis Anne shook her head. “That woman,” she said, but I knew she meant it in the most loving way.
After we finished our tea, the four of us continued working. Mavis Anne sat with Louise, attaching price tags to each skein of yarn. I sorted through the delivery boxes and filled each cubbyhole with various fibers while Yarrow worked on a poster for her price list.
Soft classical music played on the CD player that Mavis insisted we should have. She wanted to provide the most tranquil and relaxing atmosphere possible for our knitters. I looked around and smiled. Women working together, involved in a common love. It was heartwarming how this ritual had gone on for centuries. Yes, there were mean girls around. Like the ones who bullied Haley or the ones who excluded Fay. But for the most part, women supported women, through the good and the bad. Women comprised a community that wasn’t based on geographical location, but rather a deeply rooted connection—and that’s just the way it was.
“Did you finish the shawl?” I heard Louise ask.
“I did,” I told her and walked over to a box on the sofa. I reached in and brought out the completed Chloe’s Dream, holding it up for her to see.
She jumped up from her chair and rushed over to touch it, causing me to smile. I’m not sure what it was, but most knitters always had an overwhelming need to touch not only skeins of yarn but the finished pieces.
“Oh, Chloe,” she gushed. “This is absolutely stunning! You did a wonderful job—I can’t wait to begin working on mine.”
“Thank you. This knit-along is the first one we’ll do. I’ve posted the September calendar over there on the bulletin board,” I said, pointing to the side wall. “I think I can put this on our manikin now.”
I walked over and draped the shawl around the upper torso of the form. I put my fingers to my lips and then touched the shawl. Thank you, Emmalyn, I whispered. For everything.
“You really did an outstanding job designing and knitting that,” Mavis Anne told me. “Thank you so much.”
“It was my pleasure.”
By five we had decided we’d done enough work for the day.
“David and Clive have prepared a nice dinner for us,” Mavis Anne said. “They knew we’d be tired after working out here all day. Louise, you’re welcome to join us.”
“Do I have to go home and change into my glad rags?”
Mavis Anne gave her friend the once-over and snapped, “I guess you’ll do,” but I saw the grin she tried to hide.
I could already feel the climate slowly beginning to change as we sat on the patio following dinner. There was just a hint of autumn in the air and I welcomed the delightful weather that was on the way.
Louise wiped her mouth with a linen napkin. “I must congratulate you two,” she said. “That chicken dish was superb and the pecan pie was exquisite.”
“Thank you,” they both said and smiled.
I felt a smile cross my face as well. David and Clive were two of the nicest people I’d ever met. Gentle and kind, their love for each other shined through their temperate natures. I envied that kind of love—the kind of love that just was. No drama. No lack of trust. And I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever know that in a relationship. Easy was the word that came to mind.
“And you must love getting waited on hand and foot,” Louise told her friend. “Do you ever plan to return to Koi House?”
“Why would I?” Mavis Anne snapped. “Admit it, you’re just jealous.”
Louise laughed and I knew it was lighthearted bantering between them.
“You’re probably right,” she said.
Mavis Anne chuckled. “I know I am. I’m always right. But no, we’ve discussed it and I think I’m going to make this place my permanent residence. However, I’ll be looking for a live-in caregiver for about a month after the first of the year. David and Clive are finally going to take a much-needed holiday to Italy.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” I said. “How exciting.”
“I agree. You guys work so hard and haven’t been away for ages. Will you hire an agency?” Yarrow asked her aunt.
“I’m not sure yet. I have plenty of time to consider that.”
After I returned home, I settled down with my knitting. I was now working on a gorgeous twisted cable cardigan we would display in the shop. I was using Cascade Heritage Paint yarn in the Citrus Mix colorway—shades of tangerine, lemon, beige, and white. And it was working into the perfect colors for Florida.
My cell rang and seeing Henry’s name brought a smile to my face.
“How are you?” I said.
“Great. I’m finally getting out of here next week and Delilah and I will be quite happy to finally be back in Florida. We’re still on for a week from Tuesday, right?”
“I wouldn’t dare back out,” I told him.
I heard him laugh. “Good girl. So are you on target to open in three days?”
“We are. We spent most of the day in the shop getting organized. The furniture looks great, we’ll finish up arranging and pricing the stock tomorrow, and I’m hoping we’ll be flooded with customers on Tuesday.”
“Oh, I don’t think you need to worry about that. I have a feeling this yarn and tea shop will be a huge success.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”
“How’s the weather down there? Still hot and humid?”
“Actually, no, it’s beginning to ease up and I could almost feel fall in the air this evening.”
“Great. Well, we’ll have to take my boat out when I get down there. If you’d like to do that.”
I recalled the missed opportunity with Chadwick. “That would be fun, but I didn’t realize you had a boat.”
“Oh, yeah. Just a little something Delilah and I like to take on the river. Well, I’m sure you’re tired from all the work you did today, so I’ll let you go. I’ll call you again soon. Good night, Chloe. Sweet dreams.”
I smiled. For almost a week I hadn’t had any dreams. Not one.
Chapter 41
I awoke on Tuesday morning at five—without the help of an alarm. Today was the day. After four months of indecision and confusion, I knew I had arrived at
a good place. I had the opportunity once again to be the owner of a yarn shop. Dreamweaver would open at ten and prove to me that not all dreams happen when we’re sleeping.
I lay in bed for a while thinking about the past months and everything that had happened to push me forward on my journey. Gabe crossed my mind, which made me realize that some people come into our lives forever, while others are only meant to stay briefly, but all of them touch us in profound ways. And that included Aaron Price.
When I glanced at the clock again, I saw it was going on six and Basil was beginning to stir. Just as I sat up, my cell phone rang, causing my stomach to drop. Nobody ever called me this early. I saw Henry’s name on the caller ID and gripped the phone to my ear.
“Is everything okay?” I blurted.
“Oh, yes. Fine. I’m sorry, Chloe, if I alarmed you and I apologize for calling so early. But I knew you’d be extra busy today . . . and . . . I just wanted to call and wish you the very best of luck with your opening.”
I felt a smile cross my face. “Henry Wagner,” I said, “you are one of the most thoughtful men I’ve ever met. Thank you.”
“Well, I was thinking of you and I wanted to catch you before you got busy.”
Thinking of me at six in the morning? The smile on my face increased.
“You are so sweet. Thanks again. I’m hoping for a really great day.”
“I have no doubt it will be. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I disconnected the call and headed to the shower, the smile on my face still intact.
An hour before we were due to open, I placed the key into the door of what used to be the schoolhouse—and was now Dreamweaver Yarn Shop—and stepped inside.
This was it. As of today, I was a bona fide business owner in Ormond Beach. A community that had welcomed me much as Cedar Key had. I had made very good friends with Mavis Anne, Yarrow, and Maddie, and I had a multitude of acquaintances. I also seemed to have a man in my life who appeared to be quite interested—despite the fact we’d only be meeting in person for the first time one week from today.
I booted up the computer and then walked around straightening skeins of yarn and rearranging lamps on tables. I heard the key in the back door and saw Yarrow coming in with Mavis Anne.
“Good morning,” they called.
Yarrow placed platters of baked goods on the counter while Mavis walked toward me. Giving me a hug, she said, “Are you ready for the onslaught?”
I laughed. “From your lips to the customer’s ears.”
“Now, now, I think we’re going to do very well,” she assured me.
Fifteen minutes before we were due to open, Mavis Anne jumped up from the sofa, reaching for her cane.
“Oh,” she exclaimed. “The gate.”
“The gate?” I had no idea what she was talking about.
“We have to unlock the gate in the driveway.”
We had decided that for safety reasons, it would be a good idea to keep it locked when we were closed.
“Oh, right,” I said. “I’d forgotten. I’ll go open it.”
“No, no. I’ll do it,” she said. “Besides, I want to look at our beautiful sign again.”
I smiled. The sign displaying the words Dreamweaver Yarn Shop & Nirvana Tea and Coffee had been etched onto a bronze plaque that dangled from two chains on the gate. It had been delivered a few days before and the three of us were quite happy with the finished product.
Mavis Anne walked outside just as the phone on the desk rang. The landline had been installed the week before, but this was the first time I’d heard it ring.
“Dreamweaver Yarn Shop,” I said and heard the pride in my voice. “How may I help you?”
“Oh, yes, hello. I’m down here visiting for a week and heard you’re opening today. What are your hours?”
“We’re open ten till five today,” I told the caller.
“Great. I’ll be over shortly.”
I hung up and looked out the window to see Mavis Anne coming back to the shop—followed by about twenty women walking single file behind her. What the heck!
Mavis entered the shop laughing. “Look what I found. These ladies were all waiting in the driveway for us to open. No sense making them wait ten more minutes.”
I laughed. “None whatsoever. Welcome.”
The yarn shop filled with the excitement of women exclaiming.
“Oh, what a beautiful shop.”
“Look at the colors of this cashmere.”
“Oh, they carry the interchangeable needles by Knitter’s Pride.”
“Look at this. The Cascade Paint yarn in such yummy colors.”
I had expected our regulars to show up but these women were all strangers to me and apparently they were to Mavis Anne also.
“I swear, it looks like a bus stopped out front,” she whispered to me.
I laughed. “I know. Isn’t it great?” I walked toward the center of the room. “Ladies, I want you to know that Nirvana Tea and Coffee is also open,” I said and gestured toward the back. “Yarrow would be happy to take your orders.”
“This is just perfect,” I heard one woman say. “I wanted to be here when they opened, so I skipped my coffee this morning.”
She headed toward the back of the shop, followed by a few others.
Mavis Anne and I had decided that she’d sit at the desk to ring up orders and I’d cover the floor to answer questions and give assistance.
“Oh, that shawl is simply stunning,” one woman said, walking toward the manikin. “Is the yarn available here?”
“It is,” I told her. “And we’ll be starting a knit-along on Friday to make it.”
“I’d love to go to that, but I’m afraid we’re heading back to Michigan tomorrow. Do you have the pattern?”
“Yes, and if you purchase the yarn here, the pattern is free.” I directed her to where the yarn was located so she could make her choice.
During the next hour I helped women select sock yarn, lace yarn for shawls, alpaca for pullover sweaters, and answered questions about patterns. I glanced up and saw Maddie walk in the door carrying two large flower arrangements.
I ran to give her a hand. “Here, let me help you. Wow, these are gorgeous. For us?”
“For you—and there are two more in the truck.”
“Oh, my gosh. Let me help you.”
She waved a hand in the air as she walked back outside. “I’m fine. I’m used to deliveries. Open the cards.”
Mavis got up to inspect the gorgeous arrangement of yellow spray roses with orange and purple lilies. She removed the card from the envelope, which read “Wishing all of you success. From all of us in Cedar Key.” I read the card over her shoulder and saw it had been signed by Grace, Sydney, Marin, Berkley, Dora, and Monica and I felt a lump in my throat.
“How nice,” Mavis Anne said.
“It is and they’re just beautiful.”
“Open the card for that arrangement,” she told me.
An arrangement of roses in soft tones of pink, peach, and cream was from Maddie, wishing us all the best.
Maddie walked back into the shop carrying a tall glass vase filled with exquisite white calla lilies. The card revealed they were from Chadwick.
“One more,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
She returned carrying a large glass bowl, filled with multicolored rocks at the bottom, which supported a beautiful green bamboo plant.
I opened the envelope and read out loud, “May this bamboo bring good fortune and happiness to the yarn and tea shop. Best, Henry Wagner.”
“How very thoughtful of him,” Mavis Anne said.
Yarrow had joined us and smiled as she sent me a wink. “It certainly is.”
We ushered out the last of our customers at five fifteen and the three of us plopped on the sofa.
“Whew,” Yarrow said. “I’d say we had an excellent first day, but I’m tired.”
I laughed. “Me too. It’s going to take a bit of time to get back int
o the groove of working again. If we continue to be this busy every day, we’re going to have to think about hiring another person.”
Mavis Anne nodded. I could tell she was weary. “That’s not out of the question, but we’ll give it a couple weeks and see how it goes. Our regulars did stop by but the majority of the people here today were simply checking out a new yarn shop. They might have their own local shop that they’re loyal to.”
“True,” I said. “And I know a fair number of them were from out of state on vacation.”
“Congratulations. Time to celebrate.”
I looked up to see David and Clive coming through the door. David was carrying a silver ice bucket with a bottle of champagne peeking out and five flutes in his other hand. Clive had a large platter of appetizers.
“We saw the last of your customers just left. I trust it was a good day?” David began to uncork the bottle.
“This is so nice of you,” Yarrow said. “And yes, I’d say opening day was a huge success.”
“Well, this is our little gift to you. We thought you might have plenty of flowers,” Clive said. He looked around at the four arrangements we’d placed on end tables and the desk. “And from the looks of it, I think we were right.”
After David poured the champagne, they toasted us to wish us well. He took a sip and then looked around the shop inspecting the flowers. “Gorgeous,” he said. “Simply gorgeous. Oh, and by the way, I’m not sure what you had planned for dinner, but Clive and I have prepared a rack of lamb as the other part of your celebratory gift.”
“I won’t turn that down,” Yarrow said. “I was going home to have a grilled cheese.”
I laughed. “I wasn’t sure what I was having tonight, so thank you.”
“Dinner’s at seven,” David said. “That’ll give you a chance to enjoy the champagne and chill out a little bit.”
After we finished the champagne, Mavis went back home with David and Clive. I wanted to feed Basil before joining them for dinner. Yarrow and I did a walk-through, making sure everything was secure till the next morning.
As we walked past the end table that held the bamboo plant, she paused and said, “Your dinner date with Henry is a week from tonight, right?”