The Diva Serves High Tea (5 page)

“Where's Callie?” asked Francie. “You don't usually do the serving.”

Martha straightened up. She always held herself very erect. Rumor had it that Martha had lived around the world with her husband, who was some sort of big shot in the military. Although she was still very attractive, crepey
eyelids gave away her age. Her eyebrows had little worry hooks in them near her long, straight nose. I had only seen her with her hair pulled back in a flawless French twist that emphasized her features. I suspected she had been very beautiful when she was younger. She gave the impression of someone who had been through a lot. Maybe it was her nose, or the way her lips pulled together in a vaguely disapproving pout, but she made me feel like I should sit up straight and behave.

Martha smiled when she said, “Seems like people are always off their stride when it comes to special events like this.” She lowered her voice. “Callie was running late today. I think she might have had a date last night.”

Velma appeared perplexed. “I didn't see her with anyone.”

It did not escape my attention that Francie nudged Velma's foot with her own.

Dear Natasha,

I threw a tea party and my know-it-all neighbor said it was inappropriate to serve tea without proper tea knives. I've heard of teaspoons. Are there tea forks and tea knives?

—Uncouth in Knife River, Minnesota

Dear Uncouth,

Indeed there are such things as tea knives. The dessert fork may be used as a tea fork. Every properly equipped household should have tea knives. They are approximately seven to eight inches long and may also double as breakfast knives.

—Natasha

“Maybe she went out with Hunter,” said Francie.

“Who's Hunter?” asked Nina.

“He's almost as handsome as Robert but in a different way,” said Francie. “He's adorable. Sophie, I had my eye on him for you, but he's simply taken with Callie. The way he
looks at her! Oh my. I'd have made sure you met him, Sophie, if you didn't have Alex.”

“I know exactly who you're talking about. I didn't think he would show today because of the auction but he's here.” Martha nodded toward the back and winked at Velma and Francie. “Callie deserves a nice man in her life. But poor Natasha! Small wonder she's not very capable today. Robert had to set up the auction preview for her over at his shop. Natasha is so agitated she hasn't been able to concentrate on the auction or the tea at all. Sophie, it was kind of you to take her in last night. Imagine almost being killed by someone in your own home!”

Almost killed? That story had grown a little bit.

“And you didn't tell me about this?” demanded Francie. “I live right next door to you. That could have been me.”

Martha excused herself and hurried off.

I filled Francie in on the events of the night, trying to make it sound a little less disturbing. Evidently my sanitized version didn't work because Francie declared, “As soon as I get home, I have to look for my husband's old shotgun.”

Nina's eyes widened in alarm. I knew why. All we needed was Francie running around the neighborhood with an old shotgun.

I patted her hand. “Don't you worry. We'll all look out for you, Francie.” Hurrying to change the subject, I said, “Martha has created an amazing place here.”

Nina whispered, “I hear she runs it like she thinks she's still a military wife.”

“Her husband might be retired from the military, but I think some habits die hard,” Velma said.

Francie sipped her tea. “I don't care how she does it. I'm just glad she opened The Parlour.”

“Do you come here often?” I asked.

“Every day. This is our regular table, so we can watch Robert's shop across the street. Now I don't want you girls making a big deal out of it but I have a birthday coming up day after tomorrow, and I'd like to have a little afternoon tea here. Would you do me the honor of coming?”

“Of course we will!”

Nina nodded eagerly. “And how old will the birthday girl be?”

“Thirty-nine.” Francie said it with a straight face.

Nina nearly spewed tea. “You might as well tell us. Otherwise we'll be forced to sneak a peek at your driver's license.”

“Won't do you a bit of good,” said Velma. “I've looked. She marked off the date with indelible ink.”

“That's probably illegal!” Nina wiped the saucer of her cup.

“That's what I told her,” said Velma. “She's just lucky a cop hasn't stopped her yet.”

Francie smiled smugly. “I don't want any silliness. No presents or funny hats or strippers. Just a lovely afternoon with tea and friends. Okay?”

Strippers?
Nina and I exchanged grins. The two older ladies were just too cute.

Before long, a woman about Martha's age brought plates and a stunning three-tiered silver server to our table. I spied watercress sandwiches with the crusts cut off, pink petit fours, macarons, tiny toasts with caviar, miniature éclairs, little cakes filled with lemon curd, fruit tarts, and pink-iced strawberry cakes. My mouth watered at the mere sight of the assortment.

The woman chatted eagerly with Velma and Francie. They introduced her as Callie. She was so slender that her cheeks sank in, making her large eyes seem even bigger. Dark red lipstick covered thin lips. She wore her long brown hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. A shorter section in front created a high wave off her forehead that was reminiscent of the big hair popular in the eighties. I couldn't tell if she had teased it or if it was naturally curly and unruly. She wore a ruffled white apron with the name
The Parlour
embroidered on it in light blue. She bent forward and whispered, “I brought you extra macarons because I know how you love them.”

“Should we make room for Robert?” asked Velma.

“I think he needs to stay up front during the auction to make sure it goes well,” Callie said. “I overheard him and Martha complaining about Natasha. Apparently she was attacked last night! In her own home. Can you even imagine? We're all pitching in for her. She's not pulling her weight but who can blame her?”

Nina's eyes met mine. Natasha was lucky Martha and Robert hadn't known her very long. It was typical of Natasha to expect others to do her work. Unless she didn't feel well today. Didn't people sometimes get achy the day after a car accident? Maybe she was beginning to feel the pain.

“Did you see Hunter in the back?” Francie asked.

“I can't believe he came.” Callie flushed.

“I hear you had a date last night! Was it with Hunter?” Velma seemed eager to hear details.

“I'll never tell!” Callie chuckled and swept away.

Velma and Francie turned to gaze at the man working on the laptop. He noticed them and gave a little wave.

We helped ourselves to delicious treats as the auction began. Toward the front of the tearoom, where cases displayed their yummy goodies for take-out, a gentleman at a podium welcomed everyone as a younger man walked through the room, carrying the first item to be auctioned: a two-foot-tall Chinese vase.

After he passed us, Velma turned to Francie. “Why would Callie have been evasive about a date with Hunter?”

“Maybe she doesn't tell you everything about her life,” suggested Nina.

Francie selected a lavender macaron. “She had no qualms telling us how she left her husbands.”

“Most odious men,” added Velma.

“And she has told us tales about the bakery where she used to work.”

Velma dabbed her mouth with a white napkin. “And about her deceased father, who wasn't much better than that first husband of hers. Callie has had a hard life.”

Nina raised her hand and waved it.

“Did you just bid?”

Nina grinned. “It's such a rush, isn't it? I love those Staffordshire dogs.”

The man carrying them brought them by our table. The two dogs were white spaniels that appeared to be in good condition. Someone across the room was bidding against Nina.

Miffed, she stood up to see who it was. When she sat down, her cheeks blazed, and she stopped bidding. Her opponent won.

“Price get too high for you?” asked Francie.

Nina swallowed hard. “No, that wasn't it.”

I rose up just a bit to see what was going on and my breath caught in my throat. Alex German, the attorney whom I had been dating, was celebrating the win with a disturbingly attractive brunette. Long, sexy bangs hid half her forehead, but there was no mistaking the high cheekbones and lovely face. I plopped into my chair, wondering who she was.

“I'm sorry, Sophie.” Nina reached over and placed her hand on top of mine.

“What? What happened?” demanded Francie. She held on to the arm of the sofa and stood up. When she sat down next to me, she spat, “He doesn't deserve you. And to think I liked that boy!”

Velma was next to crane her neck and stand for a better look. “Ohhh. Is that your boyfriend?” Her voice was low with disapproval. She sat down. “He's very handsome. From the adoring way she's smiling at him I don't think she's his sister, though. You've got trouble with a capital
T
, honey.”

A queasy shiver rushed through me. It wasn't like we were a big item. And heaven knew our relationship had been shaky up to now anyway. I sipped Irish Breakfast tea, feeling just a little bit numb. But the tea and a calm moment brought me to my senses. Maybe she
was
his adoring sister or niece. Maybe she was a client. The wife of a friend, perhaps? I eyed the cake with the lemon curd and helped myself, certain I would feel much better if I ate it. “Maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions. After all, I go places with Bernie and Mars, and it doesn't mean anything.”

“Riiight,” Nina drawled, leaving no doubt that she didn't believe that for a minute.

I was grateful when another auction item was paraded by us. This time a stunning sapphire pendant drew our admiration. I dared to bid on it, knowing I wouldn't win it for the low price where the bidding started. Suddenly, three people were vying for it and the price shot up. I was out.

“I can't believe you bid on that,” Nina wolfed a mini éclair.

“I'm an opportunist. I didn't think I'd really win a sapphire set in gold for that price but it was worth a shot.” While I enjoyed the heavenly sweet tart flavor of the lemon curd cake, the other three began to bid. A few minutes later, Francie won a stay in a honeymoon hotel with heart-shaped tubs in the Adirondacks.

And then they rolled in the ghastly sideboard I had seen in Natasha's garage. The laughter and joking in the room quickly subsided. The auctioneer kept talking but the room was so still that we would have heard one of the light-as-air macarons hit the floor.

Martha Carter's face drew tight as no one bid. Natasha was turning a shade of red I had never seen on her before. It was, after all, her donation that had brought the entire auction to an abrupt halt.

Even the immensely dignified Robert Johnson tugged at the knot of his tie with discomfort.

Callie looked on, wide-eyed, chewing her bottom lip nervously.

I did
not
want that horrid thing. But I did want to rescue the auction. I bid fifty dollars in the hope that someone, anyone, would bid higher.

Robert placed his hand on his chin thoughtfully and gave me slight nod of appreciation.

Callie saved me when she bid, too, and then Martha bid an amount so large that the auctioneer slammed the gavel down and declared, “
Sold!
”

We broke into applause. Martha took a red-faced bow and said to the room, “That ought to buy a few books for the kids!”

The auction returned to full swing after Martha's reminder that it was all for children's literacy. We relaxed in the comfy sofas and chairs that were a lovely change from sitting at dining tables. No wonder Francie and Velma had adopted The Parlour as their favorite haunt. I sat back, sipping tea and indulging in the little sweets and sandwiches. They were too cute not to try each of them!

By the time the gavel had banged down for the last time, Velma had won a basket containing two dozen cozy mysteries, Nina clutched a certificate for a day of pampering at a local spa, and an ornate metal garden bench of intertwined vines and flowers was to be delivered to Francie's house. I had managed to accumulate a window-mount birdfeeder for Mochie's amusement, a black feather wreath with a skull on it, and a six-foot-tall skeleton for Halloween that was hinged and could be posed.

The string quartet had begun to play again as people filtered out.

I made my way to the auction cashier but turned quickly when I saw Alex in line to pay. I wasn't ready for that confrontation. Maybe I was a chicken, but I really didn't want to break up in front of half of Old Town. We would be fodder for gossip for the next month. I could just hear them asking one another, “Were you there? Did you see poor Sophie when Alex walked out with another woman?” So I dodged him and sidled toward the pastry display to wait.

As I gazed at the marvelous creations inside the case, including horns of pastry filled with cream, I couldn't help overhearing Alex's new flame telling Martha how wonderful her new boyfriend was.
Blech
.

Her long lashes touched the bangs that emphasized her lovely facial structure. I wasn't the only one who noticed. Robert watched her rather openly.

“It's interesting dating someone I've know for so long,” the new girlfriend said. “I already know all his deep dark secrets.”

Martha cocked her head. “Alex doesn't seem the type to have any secrets.”

“That's sweet.” She cast a glance at Robert and flashed
him a smile. “But all men have secrets. It's up to us ladies to ferret them out.”

I turned my back to them and examined shelving that displayed so many different patterns of china that my head spun. Like Martha, I had a small addiction to collecting china. My budget didn't go very far, but I loved picking up sets at auctions and yard sales.

“Where the devil did that knife go? I just had it in my hand.” I recognized Martha's voice without looking. She enunciated precisely and spoke with great caution, as though she feared she might say the wrong thing. “I dislike disorder. While I'm glad for the business, and I'm grateful to see so many new faces here, we would have been much more organized if a certain someone had pulled her weight today.”

“Give her a break, Martha. You would be upset and distracted, too, if you had been attacked.” Callie spoke with a distinct Southern accent. She sounded like the people where I'd grown up.

“At least I don't have
that
to worry about.” Alex's girlfriend again? “He's so protective of me. It's like he can't be away from me for even a moment. It's adorable.”

Ugh
. I stepped outside for a minute and took a few deep breaths. Alex and the new girl turned the other way and didn't notice me when they left.