by R A Wallace
Alvin smoothed his face from emotion before taking a tentative sip, expecting to dislike it. He was pleasantly surprised. “Hey, this is really good.”
“You sound surprised,” Janice chuckled.
“Okay, I admit it. I thought the drink might be good for me. I didn’t know it would also taste good,” Alvin acknowledged. “I’m Alvin, by the way.”
“I’m Janice. I part my hair on the right.”
Alvin looked at her quizzically.
“Oh, you aren’t from around here. My twin parts hers on the left,” Janice explained.
“Oh, you’re a twin. That makes sense now.” Alvin looked around the shop more closely then took another sip. “So, you two work here?”
“We co-own it,” Janice said. At least, we do as of now, she thought to herself. Who knows what the future will bring.
“That’s impressive. Have you ever tried selling your drinks at other places?” Alvin asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, like at county fairs, or in your own mobile food truck on the street, that sort of thing.” Alvin watched Janice think about it.
“No, but it gives me some interesting ideas. What brings you into town?” Janice asked.
“I just took a job here, actually. With the Station Pub & Grill. I’ll be helping out with their new catering service,” Alvin explained.
“So, you’ll be around for a while?” Janice asked hopefully.
“I will,” Alvin agreed as he pushed away from the counter. “Maybe we could talk some more about my idea with your drinks?”
Janice felt the heat rush into her face. “That would be nice. You know where to find me.”
Alvin held up his cup as he turned to leave. “I’ll be back for more, count on it.”
Janice watched him leave the store. Perhaps her future wasn’t as dim as she’d thought a few moments ago. She busied herself cleaning and readying the cash register for the day. She was nearly done when the bells on the door rang again. This time, the man who entered caused her to scowl.
“Janice, good morning,” Blake said cheerfully as he looked around the shop. “Where’s my lovely bride to be?”
“How would I know?” Janice asked sourly.
Blake paused in the middle of the shop. “She isn’t here?”
“No, she isn’t.” Janice turned and took a step toward the personnel only area in the rear of the store.
“Janice, maybe we should talk about things. It’s obvious that you aren’t happy with me and Jill. I understand that, she’s your twin.”
Janice whirled around angrily. “You don’t know anything about me. You may have the wool pulled over my sister’s eyes, but I have your number. Get out of my shop.” Janice took one step toward Blake with a raised hand before abruptly turning and storming to the rear of the shop as the bells on the front door rang.
Blake glared at the empty doorway she’d just passed through. Then he turned and brushed past Lauren without saying a word.
Lauren watched him go as she stood holding a box of her pastries. Janice popped her head through the door a moment later.
“Oh, Lauren. I didn’t know you were out here.” Janice walked toward Lauren with her hands outstretched.
Lauren passed the box over and looked at the other woman’s flushed face. Her eyes were sparkling with what Lauren assumed were tears. “Are you okay?” Lauren asked gently.
Janice let out a huff of breath and managed a wobbly smile. “Yes, thanks. These smell wonderful.”
“I’ll go get the other box. I’ll be right back.” Lauren walked out of the shop, retrieved the box from her van, and returned to Janice.
Janice was setting the other baked goods out in her refrigerated display shelf. “I’m sure these will sell out in no time.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk?” Lauren asked as the bells on the door chimed again.
Jill entered the shop, looking a little flustered. She stopped when she saw her twin, then ignored her. “Lauren, I was hoping to catch you. I would like you to make my wedding cake.”
Janice murmured something as she left the front of the store and returned to the rear to handle the deliveries they’d received earlier that morning. She didn’t want to listen about wedding cakes.
Lauren watched Janice leave then turned her focus to Jill. “I would love to do that. Would you like to stop by my place and look at some photos? I also have them online. Whatever works for you.”
“I’ll look online this afternoon or tonight and get back with you,” Jill said as she shot a glance toward the rear of the shop.
Lauren took the hint and said her goodbyes.
***
Jessilyn stood outside of Teaberry Togs and looked into the window. It looked like Giselle had some new fall arrivals in and she’d put her summer stock on sale. Jessilyn couldn’t believe the summer had gone by so fast. But if she could get a good deal on some summer outfits for next year, she was all in. She’d have to come back when she was done running her errands and see what Giselle had.
Jessilyn was about to continue walking when she heard angry voices next to her. Turning, she saw the twins in front of their shop next to her, arguing out front. Jessilyn couldn’t make out all of the words, but she knew for sure they were angry.
“Because he isn’t worthy of you!” One of the twins yelled to the other.
Jessilyn saw them split as one twin went back into the shop and the other stormed off to her car parked out front. She quickly turned and walked down the street before the twin getting into her car found Jessilyn staring.
Chapter Five
Ava pulled out her worn notepad and made several notes about the jobs she had already completed for the day. She kept the notepad with her at all times out of habit. Ross McMann had been teaching her how to handle her business affairs on a computer and she really was getting much better with that. But she still liked having her old notepad with her now that she was running her own business. It reminded her of where she first started.
As the owner of Maid in Teaberry, the company Ross had helped to launch with his incubator, Ava now had one full-time person and one part-time person working for her with plans to grow even more. It was all something Ava was still trying to wrap her brain around. She, Ava Prescott, owned a business. Her daughter, Bella, looked at Ava with such admiration. That was something Ava would never tire of seeing. That her own daughter was proud of her.
Even though Ava now had employees to help her with some of her contracts, she still put in many hours a week cleaning as well. This Saturday was no different. She had one routine contract job and then another special job for the Swindell farm.
Ava pulled into the long driveway and parked in front of Cy Douglass’s farm house. She typically spent an hour here each week, but it was sometimes longer. She had a schedule where she also washed other things like the cabinets in addition to her routine tasks. Today would be one of the shorter sessions.
She grabbed her supplies from her trunk and walked to his front door. Mr. Douglass had been one of her very first customers and she wanted to repay that loyalty by being the one who continued to clean his house. A bachelor, Cy Douglass had never married, or even dated, as far as Ava knew. She’d never heard of anything, at any rate.
The man that opened the door greeted her with a warm smile. He was in his fifties and had intelligent blue eyes. He kept the gray hair that fringed around his head cut short. Ava suspected he did it himself with trimmers. He was about five inches taller than Ava which put him around five ten.
“Ava, come in,” Cy said as he backed away from the door to give her and her cleaning supplies the room she needed to clear the doorway.
Ava got right to work and the time flew by. She saved the dining room for last, as she always did. She particularly liked the room. Mr. Douglass had the most amazing display of china that she had ever seen. It looked like he had an entire set with everything matching including all of the accessories. There were even crys
tal glasses that had the same pattern etched into them that was painted on the china.
Ava had never been brave enough to touch most of it, and she was glad that she didn’t have to. He kept most of the pieces inside a lighted hutch. Some of the larger pieces, including some large platters, were on stands on a nearby table. Ava carefully cleaned the area, noticing that it looked like he had acquired another new piece to the set recently. Over the years that she had been cleaning for him, he had periodically added new pieces. After she finished cleaning, she was putting her supplies back into her bucket to carry them out when she heard Mr. Douglass behind her.
“All done?” Cy asked as he handed Ava a check.
“You’re good for another week,” Ava said with a smile.
“Do you get to go home now?” Cy asked. He knew that Ava had a young daughter.
“No, I’m headed out for a special job at the Swindell farm.” Ava watched Cy’s face darken. She was surprised to see the response.
“For the engagement party?” Cy asked.
“Yes, they’re having a party tomorrow.” Ava wondered what she had said to anger him. She’d never known the amiable man to be upset at anything.
“That man doesn’t deserve her,” Cy growled.
Ava didn’t know what to say to that, so she picked up her bucket of cleaning supplies. “Well, I should be heading out. I’ll see you next week.”
Ava entered the address into her GPS. She had a fair idea of where the farm was, but she’d never actually been there and had never thought of getting there from Cy Douglass’s farm. Ava looked at the map the GPS gave to her and realized that she would be passing in the general direction of the Teaberry Farm Bed and Breakfast.
Megan had helped her out recently with a job in a building that turned out not to be haunted. It was Megan’s sleuthing that had solved a forty-year old mystery about the old building. Ava spotted Megan’s farm as she drove past. It looked like she had quite a few people there and they had ladders near the trees in the orchard. Ava realized that they must be making cider. She knew that Megan made it a couple of times each fall starting with early September. Ava made a mental note to stop and buy some. Bella loved the cider.
Following the GPS, she made it to the Swindell farm without any problems. She grabbed her supplies and walked up to the large front porch. She loved old farmhouses. Although she didn’t have any plans to move Bella any time soon, she hoped that someday they might have their own house with a little land around it.
One of the twins answered the door but Ava wasn’t certain which one it was, so she opted to play it safe. “Miss Swindell?”
Jill chuckled. “It’s Jill. Remember, my name is shorter, and I part my hair on the left. Janice’s name is longer, and she parts her hair on the right.”
Ava made a mental note and followed the woman into the old farmhouse. It was beautifully decorated. There was a lot of wood trim all over the house. Jill caught her examination of the home.
“I was hoping that you could get us up to snuff for the party but then come back after the party and clean us up again,” Jill said.
“Of course, I’d be happy to,” Ava said with a smile. After asking a few questions, she got to work. When she finally finished her cleaning, she went looking for Jill Swindell. She typically required payment at the end of the job. She thought she heard voices in the living room and assumed it might be Jill.
She set her bucket of cleaning supplies near the front door and was walking back down the hallway toward the living room when she heard a man’s voice speaking. Ava didn’t want to eavesdrop any longer than she already had by accident, so she quickly made her presence known by approaching the room and interrupting their conversation.
The man that had been speaking was facing Ava and nodded at her when she approached. Jill turned and saw Ava standing in the doorway. “All done?” At Ava’s nod, Jill walked over toward a table and picked up a check, then walked over to Ava.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you fitting us in,” Jill said with a warm smile as she handed the check to Ava.
Ava glanced over at the man on the other side of the living room. He appeared impatient to resume his conversation. “Not a problem,” Ava said to Jill, returning the smile. “Let me know when you’re ready for me to come back.”
Chapter Six
The dark clouds that had been threatening rain all morning cleared by noon. The sunny skies were now promising a beautiful afternoon for an outdoor engagement party. Janice looked out the second floor window of her bedroom at the tents, tables, chairs, and the Station Pub & Grill catering truck. It occurred to her that, as usual, her sister had thought of everything. Now, with the bright blue sky overhead, the guests were guaranteed a good time at the party.
Janice wished she could say the same for herself. She should be happy for her twin. She should have been completely involved in the preparations for the party. The two of them could have made the decisions together, contemplating for hours over what color theme to use or which foods to have. Instead, they’d been driven apart by a wedge named Blake. Janice felt so torn apart, she didn’t think she would ever feel whole again.
She looked at herself in the mirror out of habit before leaving her room. She didn’t really care what she looked like today. She walked down the stairs to the first floor and found Jill in the kitchen.
“There you are. Do you think you could make the time to help me now?” Jill glared at her twin.
She hadn’t meant it to come out the way it did, but she didn’t understand why her sister was behaving the way she was about Blake. Jill could tell by the stubborn look on Janice’s face that she hadn’t yet come to terms with the upcoming marriage.
“I thought you had everything all planned?” Janice crossed her arms. “Without asking for any input from me, I might add.”
“I don’t understand why you’re behaving like this. I was hoping you’d at least make an effort for the party. People are already beginning to arrive. I need to get out there and greet them with Blake.” Jill glanced out the window then turned a frustrated face toward her twin.
“By all means. Go greet them with Blake. What do you care if he doesn’t want me living here once you’re married?” Janice said as some of the guests began filtering into the kitchen to offer their help with the party.
Jill turned toward the two women that had entered the kitchen. An old friend stepped forward and smoothly began speaking as though she hadn’t heard Janice’s remark.
“Jill, you should go out with your guests. I’ll help Janice in here,” Connie Powers said as she shooed her friend out the kitchen door. Turning back to Janice, Connie gentled her voice and placed her hand on Janice’s arm. “So, what can I do to help?”
Karen Bouchard stepped up behind Connie. “Me too. What can I do?”
Janice looked at her old friends and smiled. She glanced around the kitchen and looked at a box of things she assumed Jill wanted out on the tables. Picking it up, she handed it to Connie. “Can you take these out and place them on the tables?”
Karen watched Connie go and then turned back to Janice. “Are you really worried that Blake won’t want you living here?”
Janice shrugged. “I’m sure he won’t, and I know I wouldn’t want to anyway. I can’t stand that man. Can you help me take these outside?” Janice motioned toward the plastic glasses Jill must have bought for the wine.
Janice picked up one of the boxes and led the way outside with Connie following with her own box. The two women split up and set the cups out at both ends of the drinks table. Jill had thought of everything, Janice thought. There were bottles of wine and beer in coolers with a lot of non-alcoholic options.
Looking around at the tables under the tents for anything else she might be able to do, Janice spotted Blake walking toward her and scowled. She turned to walk away from him, but he caught up to her quickly.
“Janice, I’d like to talk with you about Jill. I understand that you two had an a
rgument. I don’t want her day ruined. Can’t we talk things over?” Blake pleaded.
“I have nothing to say to you,” Janice said stonily.
Blake’s face flushed. “You’re being selfish.”
Janice took an involuntary step back at Blake’s retort just as Jill caught up to Blake, then turned and walked away from them both.
Blake was about to follow her when he realized they had attracted attention and others were now watching him. He flashed a smile, took Jill’s elbow, and led her away in the opposite direction of Janice.
“You shouldn’t have said that to her,” Jill hissed at Blake as they walked.
Blake stopped walking as they reached the area where Jill had been greeting guests. He turned to Jill in frustration. “I can’t seem to win with either of you two today. I’m going to get a drink.”
Jill watched him walk away then turned around to greet more arrivals.
***
Giselle arrived at the party fashionably late and was happy to see that she wasn’t the only one. Susan and Caitlyn were also just parking their car. Giselle waited for them to get out so they could walk into the party together.
“Beautiful day for a party, isn’t it?” Giselle asked.
Caitlyn looked at her attractive, statuesque friend and business neighbor with envy. “You rock that outfit.”
Giselle grinned. “Thanks, I like it. We just got a new shipment in at Togs. You could stop by and get one in your size.”
Caitlyn shook her head ruefully. “You know it wouldn’t look as good on me.”
“I don’t agree,” Giselle said. “But I do think you should only wear what you are comfortable in.”
“It looks like Jill is over there greeting guests. We can head that way.” Susan motioned with her hand.
“I see they have the new catering truck here,” Giselle said to Caitlyn. She knew that Doug and Caitlyn were an item and she was happy for her friend.
“I think Doug and Jim adding a catering truck to their business is a great idea,” Susan said as they reached Jill. After offering greetings, they split up and began mingling.